Signs That Your Sump Pump May Need Maintenance

December 3rd, 2013 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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There are some things that get often get ignored in your home until they become an obvious problem. One of these is your sump pump. Unfortunately, waiting to service your sump pump can have expensive and nasty results. Once the pump goes out, you can end up with flooding and sewer water in your home, causing not only water damage but dangerous bacterial contamination.

Just like any other mechanical device, sump pumps needs regular maintenance to run efficiently. Some signs that your sump pump is in need of maintenance are:

–        Loud noises. Strange or loud noises coming from your pump could be a sign of a clog, jam or mechanical problems. Most sump pumps run fairly quietly, and should not make much noise. Loud noises could be a sign that maintenance is needed.

–        Odor. A foul odor in your home may be caused by your sump pump. It may be clogged, have seal issues or there may be a problem in the vents. If you’ve noticed an unpleasant odor, this is probably a good time to get your sump pump checked.

–        Flooding. If excess water is collecting in your sump pit, consider it time to call a plumber. The problem could be a clog, mechanical failure or just too much stress put on the unit.  Excess water can cause water damage, mold and sewer water, all of which can contaminate your home.

As with most machines, having your sump pump inspected and maintained will cost you much less than if it breaks altogether. It is better to spend a little money to keep it running properly, and fix issues now before they cause bigger, more expensive problems.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing

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Basic Types of Backup Sump Pumps

August 7th, 2012 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Many experts agree that a backup sump pump is an excellent way to ensure that your basement or home is protected against flooding and damage to the foundation.  A sump pump is designed to protect your home and foundation against water by collecting the water and pumping it safely away from your home.  Sump pumps are installed in a sump basin or well below the level of the basement floor.

There will typically be some sort of drainage system installed around the perimeter of the basement that drains into the sump basin.  The drainage system collects water around the foundation and directs it to the sump basin.

The sump pump is activated by a float switch when the water level in the well reaches a certain height and pumps the water out of the basin and safely away from your home through a discharge pipe.  Most primary sump pumps are used infrequently.  As a result, they can fail at the worst possible time which is when the water level is rising.

If the sump pump system is not used often, the pump intake can become clogged by debris that accumulates in the unused sump basin. In addition, the float switch can become stuck, the discharge line can become clogged, or the pump itself can fail.   Another problem with a primary sump pump is that it is wired into the household electrical system and if the power goes out during a storm, the sump pump will not operate.

A backup sump pump addresses these problems.  The backup sump pump is also installed in the sump basin and set to operate if the water level in the basin gets higher than it should.  If the primary sump pump fails, the backup sump pump will take over before the water level reaches your basement.

In addition, backup sump pumps do not rely on household electricity and are not affected by power outages.  Some backup sump pumps are battery operated while others use water pressure to operate.  A battery operated sump pump needs regular battery maintenance, but can be easily installed in almost any type of sump pump configuration.  Water powered backup sump pumps need less maintenance, but are a little trickier to install, especially in finished basements where access to plumbing may be problematic.

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Sump Pump Testing and Maintenance

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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If your home is equipped with a sump pump, regular routine testing maintenance will help make sure it is ready to go and operating properly when it’s needed.  The worst time to discover that your sump pump has stopped working is when your basement starts filling up with water.  Spring is a great time for sump pump maintenance since this is the time of year when sump pumps are needed the most.

Your local plumber can take care of servicing and maintaining you sump pump if you are not comfortable doing it yourself, but the procedure is not difficult and can be handled by most homeowners.

First, make sure there is power to sump pump by checking the circuit breakers.  Reset the breaker if it has been tripped.  If the breaker trips frequently, stop and call your plumber to have the system checked out.

Next, open the lid to the sump pump well.  Use a flashlight to inspect the well and make sure it is clear of dirt, dust, and other debris that may have fallen into the well.  Any foreign material can clog the intake just when you need the pump to operate the most.

Fill a five gallon bucket with water and carefully pour the water into the sump well while watching the float switch.  When the water reaches the float switch, the sump pump should activate and drain the sump well.  If the pump does not activate, you will need to have the system inspected by a plumber.

Finally, once the pump empties the well and shuts off, watch to make sure that no water flows back into the sump well.  If it does, your check valve is stuck otherwise not operating properly.  If everything checks out, replace the lid on the sump well and you are done until next time.

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