I have lived in my home for nearly ten years. During those ten years, I apparently had some unwelcome tenants eating the wood in my basement. I found out that there were termites destroying my home and that I was going to have to get some serious repair work done. The damage that those tiny insects caused to my home left me bewildered. I had thought about attempting the damage repairs myself, but quickly realized that it would be work better left to the professional damage contractors. If your home has been eaten by termites, take a few moments to visit my site to find out what all really needs to be done to ensure the damage is repaired and those pests don't return.
damage restoration after termite infestation
Frozen Sump Pumps: What You Can Do To Fix The Problem
Christopher Mitchelle
Because sump pumps frequently load up with water and then pump the water out and away from your home, they are susceptible to weather temperatures and conditions. This means that they absolutely can freeze up when the weather turns harsh and cold. That starts a whole new series of problems, which includes a sump pump that absolutely cannot do what it is meant to do. Here is what you can do to prevent a frozen sump pump and/or fix a frozen sump pump to prevent major damage to its components.
Keep Your Basement or Crawl Space at Sixty Degrees or Above
Just as you need to keep your pipes insulated and keep your home at fifty degrees or above in winter, you should keep your basement or crawl space at or above sixty degrees. When temperatures dip really low (i.e., below zero), the cold can seep into your basement or the crawlspace and begin to freeze the water in the sump pump hole. Keeping the temperature up can help deter a completely frozen sump pump.
Break Up the Ice on the Surface of the Water
In the event that you start to get a frozen layer across the top of the sump pump hole, reach in and break it up. You can then add a pot of boiling hot water to the hole to melt bits of ice and heat up the water in the hole so it cannot freeze. During major cold snaps, you may need to do this every morning to prevent a frozen sump pump.
Trigger the Sump Pump to Run in the Early Winter to Empty the Hole
Another thing you can do is to wait until after the first snowfall. Then trigger the sump pump to run, empty and drain completely. This will remove a lot of the water that collected in the hole before the snow arrives. No water left in the sump pump hole means there is no water to freeze up and your pump is safe for the winter season.
When You Find a Fully Frozen Sump Pump
When your sump pump is completely frozen and looks like a block of ice cut out of the frozen lake, you have a major problem. If you can, crank the heat up in your basement or crawlspace to help melt the ice surrounding the sump pump. If you cannot get things hot enough, grab some space heaters and set them on the sump pump area. It may take several hours to heat up and melt the ice block, but once the sump pump is floating in just water, trigger it to empty so that you do not have to repeat these rescue steps.
For more tips, contact a company like Always Dry Basement Waterproofing.
Share