Home Purchase Sump Pump Check

A pre-purchase check looks at the sump pump, pit, float switch, check valve, discharge line and any backup pump. In Elgin, IL, more than half the homes were built before 1980, so buyers often ask about the pump's condition and where its water goes.

What the check covers
Expect notes on how the pump responds to water poured into the pit, the float's movement, the check valve, debris in the pit and where the discharge line ends.

Limits of a check
A check shows how the pump works on the day of the visit, not how it will handle a heavy storm. It cannot see buried lines or decide whether the setup meets city standards.

Call about a discharge line and give the home's age, the ZIP code and your closing timeline.