Sump Pump Failure: Causes and Remedies

Floods are quite troublesome as they damage your property. Heavy rain throughout the day can create floods. It is quite irritating to stay indoors due to floods. Sometimes, the floods create problem even inside your house. Sump pumps can be useful during the floods. The sump pumps help you extract the excess water.

But there are times when sump pump failure occurs. This is the most difficult situation during a flood. Sump pump failure can be avoided, if you know what causes the failure and you work hard to prevent it. But before that you should know how the sump pumps work.

A sump pump can sense the presence of excess water. It then turns on automatically. Sump pumps are usually placed in the basement. They do not have any wiring. Sump pumps have a pressure sensor which helps them turn on automatically when it senses water.

After the sump pump turns on and senses excess water, it pumps out the water and releases it away from the affected area. The excess water is thrown into a drywell or a storm drain. Sump pumps have a one-way valve which prevents the excess water from coming back. The working mechanism of sump pump is quite simple. But if a single part of the motor tends to malfunction, it can result in basement flood.

Let us find out the major causes of sump pump failure.

• A clogged sump pump can create a backup and this is turn will create water damage. Sump pumps can be clogged due to a number of reasons:

1. The switch used to turn on the sump pump can get clogged or jammed.
2. The sump pump pit can get clogged due to debris and dirt.
3. Sometimes the automatic switches get tangled or jammed and create mess. This is common in the cheaper models.
4. If the pit becomes dirty, it can clog certain parts of the sump pump.

In this case, you should call a plumber and repair or replace the parts that create problem.

• Sump pump failure can also occur due to overworking of the pump. If the pump is old then it might not handle the heavy flow of water. In this case, you can buy another pump of similar quality or can get a bigger one.
• Sump pump failure can also occur if the discharge lines get clogged. This can happen if the line is clogged by ice or debris. Make sure you clean the sump pump and also use insulation around it during winter.
• Sometimes you might notice that the sump pump is running when there is no water. This will lead to the burning of the model. This can happen due to a broken or missing check valve. It can also happen due to clogged or tangled switch. To avoid this problem, you should contact a licensed plumber.
• Sump pump failure happens if the model has not been installed correctly. At times the pumps are not hooked to the draining system properly. This can also be fixed with the help of a plumber.
• Sump pump can lose power at times. This happens if the power has been cut off suddenly or there has been a trip in the circuit breaker. It is always a good idea to create a battery backup for sump pumps to avoid flooding the basement.
• A major reason of sump pump failure can be a defect in the product. So, you should test the model before you buy it.

If you want to prevent sump pump failures, you should always call a licensed plumber before the rain starts every year. Repairing and replacing the damaged parts can save you from sump pump failure.