Winter Sump Pump Care
How does winter affect my sump pump?
During winter, especially in cold states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, your sump pump discharge line can freeze. A frozen discharge line leads to overflowing in the sump pump meaning trouble for your basement. The IceGuard® ensures that even if the pipe outlet is buried under a foot of snow, water can escape, allowing your sump pump to keep your basement dry.
How to properly care for your waterproofing system
In order for your sump pump to do its job properly, keep this list of simple tasks in mind:
- Keep snow build-up away from the IceGuard®
- Remove built-up ice in between perforations in the IceGuard® to prevent backups
- Maintain a clean sump pump basin to prevent clogging
- Enroll in DBS’s Care Club for free annual maintenance on waterproofing systems
Follow these tips to reduce the possibility of your basement flooding during the winter months.
Keep Your IceGuard® Clear of Snow and Ice
The image below shows the IceGuard® portion of a discharge line on a sump pump installed by DBS. This homeowner’s IceGuard® was buried in snow causing ice to build up in the perforations. Now that the IceGuard® is free from ice and snow, it is able to process water from the basement sump pump below.
Why do I need annual maintenance?
The purpose of annual maintenance of your sump pump is to catch any signs of failure before they happen. During your annual maintenance appointment, a DBS Service Technician will come out to your home with an in-depth list of cleaning and testing tasks to make sure your system is functioning properly.
Our Service Technician will:
- Cycle & water test sump pump operations
- Clean sump system liner of sediment and silt
- Change battery in the WaterWatch® alarm
- Flush & flood test WaterGuard® system as necessary
- Evaluate discharge line(s) & potential for freezing
DBS customers can join our Care Club for an annual membership fee. Your membership in Care Club includes annual maintenance on both foundation and waterproofing solutions. Care Club members receive priority scheduling for annual maintenance.
Regardless of your status with DBS’s Care Club, we recommend servicing your waterproofing system once annually to protect your warranty and ensure your systems are working properly.
Do you have a sump pump that was not installed by DBS? That's okay, DBS services all sump pumps!
Experiencing problems with water in your home? Schedule a free no-obligation estimate with a DBS Design Specialist by filling out a Free Estimate Form or give us a call at 1-218-525-0720.
