My basement flooded twice in the last couple of days. I've never owned or lived in a house with a basement, and the problems associated therein were all news to me.

My washing machine drains into the sump pit and the water is supposed to be pumped out. The float that tells the pump to start pumping was not working properly and the water ended up all over my tile floor and seeped into the carpet in the next room. UGH!

Last night I pulled the pump out, took it outside, and gave it a thorough cleaning. Caked-on, nasty smelling soap covered the whole thing. Hoping that my cleaning job would solve the problem, I hooked the pump back up, turned on the water, and prayed. As water starting seeping onto the floor I gave the pipe a little jiggle and it started pumping. Alas, one of the pipe clamps was stripped, the pipes separated, and I found myself being sprayed in the face with foul smelling water. I held the two pipes together, being sprayed the whole time, until the water was drained. Damnit!!

Today, I went a bought a new pump and installed it. Nasty, smelly job but voila...it works! Its much quieter than the old one and I think I can run appliances without worrying about building an ark.

Now I know why I'm a teacher and not a plumber.
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