FrostList

Sump Pump Test: Local Deadlines by City

Test your sump pump twice a year — before the spring thaw and before the fall rainy stretch — using dates tied to your city's last spring freeze below. Pour five gallons into the pit and confirm the float, the pump, and the discharge all do their job. The biggest real-world failure is a power outage mid-storm, which is why a battery backup matters. This paraphrases FEMA/NFIP and plumbing associations.

Deadlines for the largest cities

CityStateLocal deadline
New YorkNYMar 30View →
Los AngelesCAJan 4View →
ChicagoILApr 10View →
HoustonTXFeb 2View →
PhiladelphiaPAMar 30View →
PhoenixAZJan 5View →
San AntonioTXFeb 25View →
DallasTXMar 2View →
San JoseCAJan 2View →
AustinTXMar 10View →
IndianapolisINApr 20View →
JacksonvilleFLFeb 1View →
San FranciscoCADec 30View →
ColumbusOHApr 20View →
CharlotteNCMar 30View →
Fort WorthTXMar 5View →
DetroitMIApr 21View →
El PasoTXMar 2View →
MemphisTNMar 16View →
SeattleWAMar 13View →
DenverCOApr 30View →
WashingtonDCMar 29View →
BostonMAApr 4View →
NashvilleTNApr 1View →
BaltimoreMDMar 24View →
Oklahoma CityOKApr 4View →
LouisvilleKYMar 31View →
PortlandORFeb 25View →
Las VegasNVJan 24View →
MilwaukeeWIApr 26View →
AlbuquerqueNMApr 6View →
TucsonAZJan 20View →
FresnoCAJan 14View →
SacramentoCAJan 12View →
Long BeachCAJan 9View →
Kansas CityMOApr 4View →
MesaAZFeb 13View →
Virginia BeachVAMar 29View →
AtlantaGAMar 24View →
Colorado SpringsCOMay 3View →
OmahaNEApr 18View →
RaleighNCMar 28View →
OaklandCAJan 3View →
MinneapolisMNApr 23View →
TulsaOKMar 31View →
ClevelandOHApr 8View →
WichitaKSApr 11View →
ArlingtonTXMar 9View →
New OrleansLAFeb 1View →
BakersfieldCAJan 31View →

Find every covered city for your state in the list below.

The five-gallon test

Pour about five gallons of water into the pit slowly and watch the float rise, the pump switch on, and the water drop. Confirm the discharge carries water 10–20 feet from the foundation and does not drain back through a failed check valve. Clear the inlet screen and pit of gravel that can jam the float.

A pump that short-cycles or runs with no rain may have a stuck float or a bad check valve. A pump seven to ten years old is near the end of its service life; keep a spare on the shelf.

Power is the weak link

Storms that overwhelm a pit are exactly when the grid tends to fail, so a primary pump alone is not enough for a basement that floods in outages. A battery backup pump runs through the outage. Test it on battery power, and note the battery's install date.

Insurance and how we time it

Standard homeowner policies and federal flood insurance often exclude pump failure; a separate water-backup rider may be available. We key the spring test to each station's median last-freeze date, when snowmelt and thaw peak. See the methodology page for how the dates are derived.

Find your state

Alabama

12 cities · deadlines from Feb 21–Mar 27

Alaska

2 cities · deadlines from Apr 20–May 1

Arizona

23 cities · deadlines from Jan 4–Jun 4

Arkansas

10 cities · deadlines from Mar 14–Apr 12

California

210 cities · deadlines from Jan 1–Dec 31

Colorado

21 cities · deadlines from Apr 14–May 10

Connecticut

15 cities · deadlines from Apr 5–Apr 26

Delaware

2 cities · deadlines from Apr 4–Apr 7

District of Columbia

1 cities · deadlines from Mar 29–Mar 29

Florida

54 cities · deadlines from Jan 15–Mar 11

Georgia

18 cities · deadlines from Feb 27–Mar 27

Idaho

9 cities · deadlines from Apr 22–May 9

Illinois

52 cities · deadlines from Apr 8–Apr 30

Indiana

21 cities · deadlines from Mar 29–Apr 27

Iowa

13 cities · deadlines from Apr 18–Apr 29

Kansas

11 cities · deadlines from Apr 4–Apr 18

Kentucky

6 cities · deadlines from Mar 31–Apr 16

Louisiana

9 cities · deadlines from Jan 30–Mar 8

Maine

2 cities · deadlines from Apr 26–Apr 27

Maryland

7 cities · deadlines from Mar 24–Apr 22

Massachusetts

36 cities · deadlines from Apr 4–May 5

Michigan

31 cities · deadlines from Apr 20–May 6

Minnesota

25 cities · deadlines from Apr 23–May 14

Mississippi

6 cities · deadlines from Feb 12–Mar 16

Missouri

16 cities · deadlines from Apr 1–Apr 19

Montana

5 cities · deadlines from May 6–May 26

Nebraska

4 cities · deadlines from Apr 17–Apr 24

Nevada

6 cities · deadlines from Jan 20–May 4

New Hampshire

3 cities · deadlines from Apr 30–May 8

New Jersey

22 cities · deadlines from Mar 26–Apr 17

New Mexico

7 cities · deadlines from Mar 12–May 14

New York

17 cities · deadlines from Mar 30–May 2

North Carolina

22 cities · deadlines from Mar 19–Apr 6

North Dakota

4 cities · deadlines from May 5–May 10

Ohio

33 cities · deadlines from Apr 8–May 8

Oklahoma

11 cities · deadlines from Mar 31–Apr 7

Oregon

14 cities · deadlines from Feb 11–Jun 6

Pennsylvania

13 cities · deadlines from Mar 30–Apr 26

Rhode Island

6 cities · deadlines from Apr 11–Apr 22

South Carolina

12 cities · deadlines from Feb 4–Apr 8

South Dakota

3 cities · deadlines from Apr 26–May 6

Tennessee

17 cities · deadlines from Mar 16–Apr 19

Texas

83 cities · deadlines from Jan 8–Apr 15

Utah

19 cities · deadlines from Mar 14–May 8

Vermont

2 cities · deadlines from Apr 29–May 5

Virginia

17 cities · deadlines from Mar 23–Apr 24

Washington

28 cities · deadlines from Mar 2–May 8

West Virginia

2 cities · deadlines from Apr 12–Apr 16

Wisconsin

20 cities · deadlines from Apr 19–May 7

Wyoming

2 cities · deadlines from May 10–May 14

Frequently asked questions

How do I test my sump pump?
Pour about five gallons into the pit slowly and confirm the float rises, the pump starts, and the discharge carries water well away from the foundation.
How often should it run?
It varies with the water table and weather — every few minutes in a storm, idle for weeks when dry. Constant running with no rain suggests a stuck float or bad check valve.
How long do they last?
About seven to ten years. If yours is near that, keep a replacement on hand so a mid-storm failure does not leave the pit unattended.
Do I need a battery backup?
If your basement floods in outages, yes — storms that overwhelm the pit are when the grid tends to fail. A backup pump runs through the outage.
Does insurance cover pump failure?
Standard homeowner and federal flood policies often exclude it. A separate water-backup rider may be available; read your policy before a storm.
Why does it run with no rain?
A high water table, snowmelt, or seepage can keep the pit filling. A stuck float or failed check valve can also cause constant cycling.
What is a check valve for?
It stops discharged water from draining back into the pit, which would make the pump short-cycle and wear out sooner.
When should I test it each year?
Before the spring thaw near your last-freeze date, and again before the fall rainy stretch. The table above keys the spring date to your city.

Data: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals; live outlook by Open-Meteo. Last updated: July 11, 2026.