When routing your sump pump outside, visually check your sump hoses outside periodically during colder temperatures to make sure your line doesn’t freeze. Make sure the hose is at a grade where it empties and doesn’t have water sitting in it that could freeze.

When routing your sump pump outside, make sure your sump hose is long enough and you are pumping water away from the foundation of your house.

Remember, backup sump pumps will not pump water at the same rate as your regular sump pump. When in use, you need to monitor them.

Test all backup sump pumps to make sure they are working properly.

If you have a battery backup sump pump, make sure your battery is fully charged

If you have two sump pumps, make sure that they are plugged into different outlets on separate circuits. That way if a circuit blows, one of the sump pumps will remain working.

If your sump pump doesn’t run very often, you can test it by filling the sump pit with water until the sump pump kicks in. If it never pumps the water out, you need to address the issue immediately.

Check your sump system continuously; making sure that it is operating correctly.

Sewer backflow valves need to be cleaned annually either by yourself or a professional for proper operation.

If you have a manual sewer backflow valve, and you close it, you cannot use your water or sewer system in your home. If you do, that usage will backup into your home.

If you have a manual sewer backflow valve, and you close it, you cannot route your sump pump into the city sewer. If you do, it will backup into your home.

If you have a manual sewer backflow valve, and you close it, you cannot operate your water softener, reverse osmosis system or any other device that generates water that drains into your sewer system. If you do, it will backup into your home.

If you have a manual sewer backflow valve, and you close it, make sure you have somewhere for condensation to drain from your furnace and/or humidifier.