In the event of a sump pump malfunction in your home, should you continue using your shower? The short answer is NO. Why is that? If there is no space for the dirty bathwater, it will flood your basement or crawlspace.
Here is how that can happen.
In homes with a sump pit, wastewater from the plumbing fixtures will usually go into the sump pit. Every so often, when the water inside it reaches a certain level, it is pumped out into the home’s drainage systems by the sump pump.
However, if the sump pump fails, wastewater from the plumbing fixtures will enter the sump pit and remain there, warns Keller n’ Jadd Management team. Eventually, the sump pit will fill and overflow into the surrounding areas of the basement or crawlspace. That can cause severe damage to the building.
There are also situations where you may still be able to use your shower even if your sump pump is not working. That is usually when the sump pump issue is minor. You may also use your shower with a backup sump pump installed.
What causes sump pump failure in homes? How can you detect the problem? And what are the steps for solving the issues?
Causes of sump pump failure
Below are the common reasons why a sump pump might fail.
Float switch failure
The most common reason a sump pump fails to work is a failed float switch. The float switch must be able to move freely to activate and deactivate the sump pump. If stuck, the sump pump will not power on when it should.
Clogged impeller
In addition to wastewater from the home’s plumbing fixtures, sump pits collect surface runoff. As a result, the water that enters the sump pit often contains mud and debris. If the pit is not cleaned regularly, this dirt can clog the pump and prevent its proper function.
Clogged discharge pipe
Debris can accumulate inside the sump pump discharge pipe. A blocked discharge pipe prevents wastewater from being pumped out of the sump pit, even if the sump pump is working.
Mechanical failure
A sump pump will stop working if its mechanical parts are worn out. This can cause excessive vibration of the sump pump or even burn the motor.
Age
If the sump pump is old – past its projected useful life – it will be prone to malfunctions. An aged sump pump can stop working without warning if its motor expires suddenly.
Inadequate maintenance
Your sump pump and the entire system in your home need to be carefully maintained. If not, the sump pump can malfunction unexpectedly, leaving your home vulnerable to basement flooding.
Signs of sump pump failure
What are the usual signs that a sump pump is about to malfunction?
The sump pump runs continuously
A sump pump motor that runs continuously without switching off will eventually burn.
The sump pump is constantly cycling
This is when your sump pump frequently activates and deactivates throughout the day or night.
Excessive vibration
If the sump pump makes a loud rattling noise when it is active, it could be due to clogged or damaged parts inside it.
Gurgling sounds
Gurgling sounds inside the sump pit could indicate the pump is overworking itself.
How to solve or prevent sump pump failure in your home
Preventing a sump pump failure is the best way to deal with it. But if you can’t keep the sump pump from failing, you can stop the problem from affecting your home.
Regular maintenance
You should create a timetable for cleaning your sump pump and its supporting systems. This simple step can help you avoid most of the problems in this post.
Periodic inspections
All components of the sump pump system should be inspected and tested periodically. You should do this yourself monthly, and a professional should do it twice a year.
Install a backup system
Your sump pump system can fail if there is a power outage. For that reason, you may want to install a battery-powered backup sump pump system.
Install an alarm system
A sump pump alarm system warns you when the water in your sump pit reaches critical levels. That is when there is a risk of flooding.
To conclude, even though you won’t be able to use your shower if your sump pump stops working in most cases, there are steps you can take to minimize the inconvenience of a sump pump failure in your home.
You can talk to a professional plumbing repair service and have them send a technician to inspect and repair your sump pump immediately or, if necessary, replace it.