The short answer
Use the manufacturer’s instructions to confirm whether an existing pump is working before the storm—and do not troubleshoot in water.
Before heavy rain or flood risk, confirm whether your existing sump pump is functioning using its manufacturer’s instructions and make sure you know its electrical circuit and any available backup plan. If the pit or surrounding area has standing water near electrical equipment, sewage is present, the pump repeatedly fails, or the home may flood, do not troubleshoot in water—move to the safety and evacuation decision first.
Safety comes first
Stop here: leave the area and seek urgent help when
- Water is near electrical equipment, outlets, a panel, cords, or appliances, or you would need to enter standing water to reach a breaker or pump. Do not touch electrical equipment or turn power on or off while standing in water.
- Sewage or wastewater has backed up into the home, or the water may be contaminated. Avoid contact and seek appropriate local or qualified cleanup guidance.
- The basement or lowest level is flooding, water is rising quickly, the building appears damaged, or local authorities advise evacuation. Leave rather than staying to watch or operate a pump.
- You smell gas, hear hissing, see downed power lines, or anyone faces immediate danger. Leave and contact the gas utility, fire department, or local emergency authority from a safe location.
Safety limit: Do not work in a wet pit, disassemble, rewire, or bypass a pump component, or connect a generator to home electrical circuits without approved equipment.
Decision support
A practical pre-storm decision framework
Use these factors to decide what to do next, what to document, and what to ask—not to guess at a remote diagnosis.
- 01
Confirm whether the pump is part of your home’s water plan
Identify whether there is a pump, where the pit is, what circuit serves it, and where its discharge appears to leave the building. Record observations without assuming that a sump pump handles sewer backup, roof runoff, plumbing leaks, or neighborhood flooding.
- 02
Check function only as the manufacturer allows
Use the model’s manual or manufacturer instructions for its recommended test and maintenance method. Keep hands and tools away from a running pump. If it does not start, runs continuously, makes unusual sounds, trips power, or does not move water as expected, treat it as a repair question for a qualified plumber, pump professional, or electrician.
- 03
Make the power and backup decision before the storm
National Weather Service guidance says to make sure the sump pump works and consider a backup. A backup is a planning question, not a promise that the basement cannot flood. Do not connect a generator to home electrical circuits without approved equipment.
- 04
Check home-side conditions you can observe safely
From a dry area, clear ordinary stored items away from the pit and electrical connection so the pump can be observed without moving through clutter. Move important documents, valuables, and medications to a higher, dry location if flooding is possible.
- 05
Use the forecast to decide whether to stay, monitor, or leave
Monitor official weather alerts and local instructions. A functioning pump does not make it safe to stay in a flooding home. If local authorities advise leaving, water is rising, or safe exit routes may be cut off, leave early and do not drive through floodwater.
Homeowner tool
A homeowner-safe pre-storm pump record
Note observable facts before the event; do not test or inspect a pump in standing water.
Pump and power record
- Pump make/model if visible, approximate location, and last known normal operation: __________
- Manufacturer manual or support contact, if available: __________
- Stated backup and how it is meant to operate, without assuming it works: __________
Water and evacuation record
- Observed discharge location from ground level: __________
- Electrical symptoms, unusual noises, standing water, drain backup, and prior flooding: __________
- Official alerts, evacuation instructions, and safe exit plan: __________
Bring better questions
Questions for a qualified professional
Use these questions to understand observations, scope, uncertainty, and what still needs a separate evaluation.
- 01Did the manufacturer-approved check indicate a pump, power, discharge, or other concern?
- 02Does the proposed work address the pump, discharge, electrical system, drain backup, or broader drainage issue?
- 03What does the proposed work not solve?
- 04If a check valve is proposed, who will install it and what drain-backup risk does it address?
- 05What local flood or evacuation guidance should still control the plan?
Scope limit
What this guide cannot do
This guide cannot determine pump capacity, diagnose a drainage or sewer problem, tell you to work in a wet pit, direct a generator connection, guarantee backup runtime, replace local flood instructions, or determine whether a home will flood.
Related guidance
Continue with the question that fits the situation.
Seasonal planning
Stay ahead of routine home maintenance.
Keep a practical, season-by-season list of the tasks worth doing before small issues become expensive repairs.
Sources
Sources last checked September 11, 2026
These sources support the guide's decision factors and safety limits. They do not provide a remote diagnosis for an individual home.
National Weather Service
Before a FloodWorking-pump checks, backup consideration, marked electrical circuits, professional check-valve installation, and evacuation framing.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Guidelines for Cleaning Safely After a DisasterElectrical-water safety, sewage precautions, and generator-connection restrictions.