Sump pumps are an indispensable part of your arsenal for keeping water issues at bay in your home. Without a machine that automatically kicks in when water starts to find its way to the vital underground spaces of the house, you would not be aware of water issues in your basement. The probability is high that you would only discover those problems after much damage has been done to the building.
Even if you are somehow able to quickly discover when your basement is flooded, removing the water would be hard without a sump pump. You may have to scoop water into a bucket and carry it out to where you want to dispose of the water. Or you could get a water pump that you need to operate manually. The hassle of constantly watching for flooding would be too much work.
Sump pumps relieve you of the burden of keeping a constant lookout for flooding in your basement. They save you the trouble of manually removing flood water from inside your home. Without a sump pump, life would be harder and water damage to your home would be almost inevitable, warns Rollingwood Management Inc. This is why you need to always make sure your sump pump is in good order.
Common sump pump issues
Sump pumps are tough but not indestructible machines. A few of the issues you may have with them include clogged sump pump, frozen or blocked discharge lines, damage to the pump’s electrical components, power loss, or a damaged float. Most of these issues can be fixed but some problems are so bad they can only be dealt with by replacing the sump pump.
Sump pumps are expected to last 7-10 years. But this depends on the quality of the pump, how well it was installed, and the kind of maintenance it gets. One thing you don’t want is for a sump pump to fail when you need it most. To avoid any chances of this happening, you should know when your sump pump has reached the end of its life.
How can you tell when it is time to replace the sump pump in your home? Below are the things you need to look out for:
Signs that your sump needs to be replaced
Sump pump is visibly damaged
Given that it is built to handle water, sump pumps are expected to be waterproof and, by extension, rust-proof. Sometimes, however, a sump pump will start to rust. This is caused usually by corroded battery terminals, but the problem can spread to the entire machine.
Sump pump cycles on and off repeatedly
If your sump pump comes on by itself – without the sump pit being filled with water, and then switches off, only to come on again, then you have a problem. The issue could be with the switch, power source, or the pump’s capacity. A pump that does this will not work well when it is actually needed.
Sump pump won’t stop running
A sump pump should normally kick in when there is water in the sump pit and the float triggers it. After the water is removed, the pump should go off automatically. If your sump pump runs without stopping, you may need to replace it.
Sump pump makes a strange noise
If your sump pump vibrates excessively when it is running or it makes strange noises, one of the machine’s internal components is failing. Typically, this problem is indicative of a damaged fan or propeller. If you have this problem, your sump pump should be replaced.
Sump pump has been inactive
You would expect a sump pump that has not been used for some time to be insulated from damage. This is not the case because disuse will lead your sump pump to deteriorate faster. Some of its parts will rust or become stuck and when you eventually try to use it, the pump will disappoint you.
Sump pump has reached retirement age
A sump pump that is at the end of its expected life is more likely to fail. After seven years of service, most sump pumps will begin to show signs of aging. If the pump is not replaced, it could fail at the time when it is most needed –that time of year when flooding is common.
Sump pump experiences frequent power outages
Electrical problems in your home, such as power surges, and frequent power failures can damage the sump pump. The electrical components of the machine may give way if your home is experiencing frequent power issues.
Sump pump was incorrectly installed
Unfortunately, this happens a lot more than most people realize. Installing a sump pump correctly is a big part of what makes the pump effective. A poorly installed sump pump will not only perform poorly, but it will also be more likely to experience problems. Sometimes the only way to fix the issue is to start fresh with a new sump pump.