Fix your faulty sump pump today!

A sump pump is similar to a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher or home security system. By quickly draining floodwater from a basement through an exterior discharge pipe, sump pumps can help to prevent or mitigate emergencies.

Like all emergency gear, you need to ensure that your sump pump is well-maintained and has no mechanical issues. If your sump pump fails, you could be facing potentially thousands of dollars worth of water damage to your home.

Below are the 11 most common reasons for sump pump failures.

1 – Power outage

The combination of bad weather and power outages can often lead to a flooded basement. The reason is that heavy rainstorms can cause excess water, and power outages completely impair your sump pumps ability to drain the water.

This problem is easily avoided by purchasing and installing a backup generator to power your sump pump. To prevent your basement from flooding, the generator can be manually turned on if power goes out during severe weather.

2 – Stuck switch

A stuck switch is the most frequent mechanical issue that can cause a sump-pump failure. This usually happens when the pump moves within the basin causing the float arm responsible for operating the switch to stop working properly.

Sometimes, debris can also block the pump’s float making it ineffective.

These problems are usually fixed by cleaning the basin and moving your sump pump back into the proper position.

3 – Overwhelmed pump

If your sump pump isn’t the correct size, or not capable of producing enough horsepower, it can become easily overwhelmed by the volume of water. A sump pump that is too small will result in increased workload and shorter life expectancy.

You can address the problem of size by determining how powerful your sump pumps need to be. A 1/3 horsepower sump pump can be used to pump 35 gallons per minute. A 1/2 horsepower sump pumps can be used to pump 60 gallons per minute if your house is on a raised water table.

4 – Frozen or clogged discharge pipe

Flood water can flow down your basement’s drain pipe if it is blocked with snow or frozen debris.  Although you are unable to stop your main discharge pipe freezing solid, you can install a special discharge line that prevents water entering your basement regardless of whether your main pipe has frozen.

Also, protect your drain pipe with a grate to prevent it from getting clogged and from small animals from entering.

5 – Ignoring maintenance

Your sump pump will need a thorough cleaning, as well as some maintenance every year. This can be done in a couple of hours.  Run a vinegar solution through the sump pump, make sure the float is not restricted and clean all vents and air holes.

6 – Old age

After 7-10 years of continuous use, your sump pump will eventually fail. Some sump pumps may last longer, but it’s a good idea to replace your pump every 10 years for maximum safety and efficiency.

7 – Improper installation

Your sump pump may have been installed improperly, resulting in it being ineffective.

8 – No check valve on the discharge line

If a check valve does is not installed on the discharge line of your sump pump, back flowing water could cause the impeller to spin backwards.

The motor of your sump pump may sound like it is running, but will not pump any water from the discharge line.

9 – No air relief hole in discharge line

To prevent pressure buildup within the discharge line, an air relief hole must be made between the pump stem and the check valve.

An air relief hole is essential to prevent air pressure from building up in your discharge pipe. Without it, your sump pump will work harder to overcome this pressure, which can lead to a short life expectancy and eventual failure.

10 – Setting up your sump pump in dirt or gravel

To make sure that the sump pump fits snugly in the hole, many people will try to fill it with dirt or gravel. Gravel and dirt can cause your sump pumps to stop working by interfering in the pump’s on/off switch or float arm.

11 – Product defect

Although unlikely, it’s possible for your sump pump to be defective. To ensure that your sump pump is working properly, it’s important to test it immediately after installation.

By identifying what causes sump pump failure; you can keep your basement dry while also avoiding spending any extra money for water damages.