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Sump Pumps: What to Tell Homeowners Before the Spring Rains
A simple pre-spring checklist and plain words a sump pump company can share with homeowners before the snow melts and the rain comes.
Quick answers
- When should I remind homeowners to check their sump pump?
- Late winter, before the snow melts and the spring rains start. A reminder after the first big storm is too late for some basements.
- What's the simplest sump pump test a homeowner can do?
- Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch the pump turn on, empty it and shut off. If it doesn't, call a pro.
- Does homeowners insurance cover a failed sump pump?
- It depends on the policy. Tell homeowners to check their policy or call their agent, and don't guess for them.
Nobody thinks about their sump pump until they hear water where it shouldn't be. Then it's the middle of the night, it's raining sideways, and the basement carpet is squishing.
If you install and service sump pumps, late winter is when you can help people most. Here's what to tell homeowners before the spring rains, and how to say it so they actually do something.
Why talk about sump pumps before spring?
In much of the Midwest, spring brings two kinds of water at once: melting snow and heavy rain. The ground is still cold and full, and the water has nowhere to go but toward the lowest spot, which is often the basement.
A sump pump that sat quiet all winter is being asked to work hard all at once. If it's old, stuck or unplugged, that's when people find out.
The trouble is, most homeowners don't know they have a problem until it's too late. A reminder in February or March gives them time to check, fix or replace before the first big storm.
What should homeowners check?
Keep the list short. People will do five things. They won't do fifteen.
Here's a simple checklist you can post, print on a postcard or read on the phone:
- Find it. Know where the pit is and what the pump looks like. It sounds silly, but plenty of people have never looked.
- Check the plug. Make sure it's plugged in, and that the outlet works.
- Test it. Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit. The pump should turn on, empty it and shut off.
- Look outside. Find where the discharge pipe comes out. Make sure it isn't frozen, buried or pointing back at the house.
- Listen. Grinding, rattling or running nonstop are all reasons to call.
And one more, for anyone with a finished basement: ask whether they'd be okay if the power went out during a storm. That's the moment to talk about a backup.
How do you say it so people listen?
Most sump pump reminders sound like a warning label. People skim them. Try making it about their house and their weekend instead.
On Facebook in late February:
"Snow's melting this week. Five minutes and a bucket of water will tell you if your sump pump's ready for spring. Here's how. [Your checklist.] If it doesn't kick on, call us at [your number]."
On the phone with a past customer:
"Hi, this is [your name] from [your company]. We put in your sump pump a while back. Spring's coming, and we're reminding folks to give it a quick test. Want me to walk you through it, or would you rather we come out?"
On a postcard:
"Before the spring rains: plug, bucket, pipe, listen. Questions? [Your number]."
Plain, short, and useful even if they never call you.
What about backups and insurance?
Two questions always come up, and both deserve honest answers.
"Do I need a backup pump?" Explain what a backup does: keeps water moving if the main pump fails or the power goes out. Then let them decide based on what's in their basement and how they'd feel if it got wet. Don't push it on everyone.
"Will my insurance cover it if the pump fails?" Say you don't know their policy, and that coverage for water from a sump pump varies. Tell them to check their policy or call their agent before spring. It's helpful advice and it keeps you out of a promise you can't keep.
Where a song fits
The hard part of sump pump service is timing. People need you on one stormy night a year, and they need to remember your name and number when it happens. A catchy 30-second song can help a name stick around until then.
An example, written fresh for this post:
When the snow melts and the rain comes down, / check your pump before the water's in the ground. / And if it's quiet when it ought to run, / call [Your name] and we'll get it done.
That's The Jingle, $750, paid once: a 30-second song with your name, what you do and your phone number, a vertical video with captions for Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, a thumbnail and the MP3. Use it on social media, local radio or your on-hold music. You okay every word first, and you don't pay until you've seen it. Tell us about your business, or call (650) 402-7843.