How to Repair a Little Giant Sump Pump

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Replacement fuse

  • Screwdriver

  • Ohmmeter

  • Cleaning rags

  • Rust remover

A Little Giant sump pump is a critical tool to keep your basement from flooding or to pump water from inside your house to the outside. The sump pump is usually placed in a sump pit, which is a hole that collects water. If your Little Giant sump pump is experiencing problems, it can cause flooding because the water in the pit will overflow. Repairing the sump pump is simply a matter of going through each possible scenario that can cause a problem and correcting it.

Advertisement

Step 1

Check the float. If something is obstructing the path of the float, the pump will not turn off. Remove any materials or obstructions blocking the float.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Check the fuse in your home's fuse box that controls the power to the sump pump if the device is not turning on. If the fuse is blown, replace it and turn on the pump to resume operation.

Step 3

Unplug the sump pump's power cord from the power supply, then leave it off for about a minute. Plug the pump back into the power supply, then leave it unplugged for another minute. Do this several more times. This action will clear any trapped air in the pump that is preventing it from turning off.

Advertisement

Step 4

Check the remote float switch. Remove the sump pump from the sump pit. Unscrew the cap at the top of the pump by removing the screws to expose the switch. Test the switch with an ohmmeter. If there is high resistance, the switch needs to be replaced.

Step 5

Clean the sump pump. Disconnect the pump from the electrical outlet. Disconnect it from the discharge pipe, then remove it from the sump pit. Remove any debris on the pump, such as dirt and grime. Check the pump for any rust and remove it. Place the pump back into the sump pit when you are finished cleaning it and turn it back on.

Advertisement

Step 6

Clean the impeller. The impeller forces water out of the pump into the discharge pipe. If the impeller is clogged, the pump will not discharge water. Properly remove the sump pump from the sump pit, then unscrew the base at the bottom of the pump. Turn the impeller chamber at the bottom of the pump counterclockwise to unscrew it, then remove it from the base. Pull the impeller out of the chamber, then clean it with water. Reinsert the impeller back into the chamber after it is clean, then screw the impeller chamber back into the base of the unit. Replace the bottom of the pump, place it back into the sump pit, then reconnect the power and discharge pipe. Turn the pump back on to test it.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references