Some Pump

Our Sump Pump Doesn’t Pump

Some pump we have for our sump pump.  We definitely confirmed that it wasn’t working this morning, when after the snow melt and a night of rain, we looked inside to find that it was full.  So of course, on a day that my Fiancé is working a 12 hour shift, yours truly gets to run to Lowe’s and hope and pray that there is someone in the plumbing section to help me.  Well God answered my prayers because two helpful gentlemen pointed me in the right direction (where another poor sod was looking at pumps because his basement actually flooded), and then one came to check on me to make sure that I was able to find the right thing.

The guy asked me what I had found and when I showed him the submersible non-automatic pump that I was holding in my hands, he scrunched up his face and explained that it wasn’t a sump pump.  This, I knew, so I explained to him that we just needed an emergency fix to get rid of the rising water until we can totally empty the out the tank and replace the broken one with one that isn’t old, yucky and completely corroded.  He was then able to confirm that I had what I needed and pointed me in the direction of the garden hoses – because I wasn’t going through the hassle of trying to thaw out any of the number that the previous home owner left out in the yard for us.

After grabbing the hose (and standing there debating whether a 15ft or a 50ft option would be the best one) I was able to check out – But I might not have wanted to deal with the pump right away, so I walked around and grabbed a few extension cords.  I found a nice one that has some USB ports for my home office, and snagged some right angle surge protector strips for other spots around the house.  One thing you don’t immediately notice when you are moving your furniture into a house built in 1969 is that there are less outlets and they are spaced further apart.  Almost all of our bedroom outlets are covered by furniture at the moment.

Some Pump

When I got home, the first step was carrying everything in from the car.  Then, like the yogi or child that I am, I plopped down on the laundry room floor to study the pump and just how to use it.  Thankfully it was super easy and the instructions made it foolproof.  Screw on the hose.  Find an outlet that is grounded and can handle the amperage, put the pump in the right spot, anchor the hose down so it doesn’t buck like a wild bronco and plug it in.  Luckily we have a floor drain not too far away.  Normally I’m not a fan of this drain because it looks corroded and sometimes gives off a musty smell but as of today, I’m a fan.  And the little submersible pump, that thing is some pump! It worked like a charm and to turn it off, all you need to do is unplug it.

If you life in an area where the water ponds a bit around your house, it’s a safe bet to have one of these little pumps handy.  This one was $98 at Lowe’s and I had a $20 off coupon.  There is another alternative at Harbor Freight, but I didn’t want to mess around with it not lasting or holding up when it comes to our first home and the basement flooding.  As a good friend told me – Lowe’s when you need it to last, Harbor Freight when it’s disposable.