Reasons for Sump Pump failure 1 of 2

6/23/2020 (Permalink)

An installed sump pump

Depending on where your home is located and how it is built, a sump pump may be an important part of protecting your home from water intrusion. In some homes, the sump pump may never need to operate, or may only operate annually during a wet, rainy season. In other homes that are located near a drainage or an area with a high water table, the sump pump may need to evacuate water frequently. It’s very important to keep your sump pump maintained, whether it runs regularly or not. You don’t want to get into a situation where you need it and it’s not working. Here are a few reasons why your sump pump could fail.

1. Power Failure

Power failures can sometimes happen during a bad rain storm. If the rainfall is heavy, and your sump pump is not working, you could end up with a flooded basement or crawlspace.  A good way to prevent this from happening is to keep a backup generator on hand. By doing this, you can continue to power your sump pump to keep the water at bay.

2. Overwhelmed Pump

Your sump pump can get easily overwhelmed by the volume of water if your sump pump is too small.

If your sump pump is too big, it can overwork and it will have a shorter lifespan. If you have questions on what size of sump pump is best for your needs, contact a local plumber.

3. Frozen or Clogged Discharge Pipe

If your sump pump discharge is frozen or clogged, flood water will flow back into your basement.  Since you can’t keep that pipe from freezing, you can have a specialty discharge line installed that allows water to exit your basement. A way to keep your discharge line from clogging is to install a protective grate on it.

4. Lack of Maintenance

Your sump pump needs a good cleaning and some quarterly maintenance. You can run vinegar solution through your sump pump, and making sure the float switch motion is not restricted. Clean all the vents on your sump pump and the air holes on your discharge line. If your sump pump rarely runs, it is a good idea to pour a five-gallon bucket of water into the sump on a quarterly basis. This exercises the pump, and prevents seizing from lack of use.

5. Old Age

With years of use and wear and tear, eventually your sump pump will give out. Sump pumps should be replaced every 7-10 years.