Spring may seem as though it will never come, but it will. So if you have a sump pump, now is a good time to check it out to be sure that it’s ready for those inevitable spring showers.

First, lift your sump’s lid (if it has one) so you can see if it’s clean and if the pump outlet is clear of obstructions. Then be sure the power is on and pour a few gallons of water into the sump to see if the pump turns on. Do this two or three times to be sure the pump turns on reliably. If you have any doubts, you might just want to call in your licensed professional plumber for a more-detailed internal inspection to be sure that the pump and its motor as well as all valves, piping and switches are clean and in good working order.

Check, too, that the expelled water will not flow into drains going into your sewer/septic system, that it is discharged at least 20 feet from your home flowing away from your foundation, and that it is not going into a septic drain field or a neighbor’s lot.

Do you have an on-site backup in case your regular power supply fails? You might want to consider one, which would cost a lot less than water damage from failure of your primary system. You might want to talk with your plumber about this, too.