How to Clean Up a Backyard Sump Pump

Fig.1 Spraying grill

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Electrical breaker panel (turned back on)
Trash/Disposal can  
Water hose with spray
Water 
Wet Vacuum

This job is located in the City of Pomona, a multilevel condominium in a beautiful rural setting with mature oak trees and a well established community. Mrs. Baker lives near multiple trees and had an established slump pump that had been installed two year ago and set to automatically remove any water within an established level in the sump tank. The pump presently was not working. This is a  regular fall job that must be done before the wet weather comes to Southern California.   

This post shows the seven steps to cleaning out the backyard sump pump so it can be ready for the incoming storms.   

Step 1: Identify if the submersible sump pump is working. Fig.1 above show that a water hose with jet is removing any leave and dirt away from the sump pump grill and surrounding area. 
Step 2: Remove the plastic pump grill and look inside the tank. Fig.2 and fig.3 shows the pump is full of dirt, leave and other plants debris.

Fig.2 Sump pump tank

Fig.3 More floating plant debris

Step 3: Fig.3 shows the next move is to remove the large leaves and anything your fingers can grasp. If the wet stuff give you the creeps use a wet vacuum to remove the debris from the tank.

Fig.4 Large leaves

Step 4: Fig.5 shows the garbage that was removed from the sump pump and place on the trash can lid.

Fig.5 Trash removed

Step 5: Fig.6 and fig.7 shows the use a water hose with attached jet to remove the loose dirt and small debris from the tank. Flood the tank until the water is clear. Use the jet on the pump drain pipe to try to remove any possible blockages.

Fig.6 Overfill the sump pump tank

Fig.7 Clean water

Step 6: Fig.8 shows the sump pump was placed on automatic. Fig.9 shows the electrical breaker panel had turn itself off. Fill the tank with water and turn the pump back on.

 

Fig.8 Pump cleaned

Fig.9 Electrical panel

Step 7: Fig.10 shows that once the pump was turned on the water was forced out by the pump out of the drain pipe and onto the cement driveway leading the runoff away from the house.

Fig.10 Pump water removed

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