LANSING, Mich. — With the warmer weather coming up, melting snow could cause some problems in your basement.
Bob Hedlund with Hedlund Plumbing says it's worth the time to make sure your sump pump is working properly.
A sump pump removes water from under concrete basement floors.
He recommends testing them often.
"I recommend just taking a five-gallon bucket of water, dump it two or three times into your sump crock and that will run the pump, turning it on and off, to test and verify that the pump is turning on and off," said Hedlund.
He says it can be very costly to have water-damaged carpets and furniture replaced.
Hedlund says it's important to keep the water a couple of feet below the surface of the concrete to prevent the basement from flooding.
"What you don't want to happen is to have the water rise so high up into the top of the sump crock because, when you start getting water at the top of the crock, that is when you are going to have water seeping through the cracks, around the foundation walls," he said.
Fidencio Palacio says he already has prepared his home.
He says his home has never flooded and he wants to keep it that way.
"I try to prepare as far as planning for what is coming up ahead. I make sure that everything is running good down in the basement and make sure everything is clear," Palacio said.
Hedlund says that if you find water in your basement, the first step is to figure out where it's coming from.
You will need to get it pumped out and then call a restoration company to deal with waterlogged flooring and walls.
