Signs That Your Sump Pump May Need Maintenance

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

Sump Pump Maintenance

Typically homes with basements will have a sump pump system connected to the perimeter drain tile, which removes ground water from the footings of a home.  Water is collected in the drain tile, where it flows into a pit within the basement.  As the pit fills up with water, it is pumped to the exterior of the home by a pump, which is connected to a discharge pipe.  A float within the pump “senses” the water level and will turn the pump on and off automatically as needed.  This system, as well as the waterproofing of the walls, is what keeps your basement dry.  On many homes with exterior stairs to the basement will have a drain in the areaway, which drains water into the sump pit.

As with any other component of a home, this system requires regular maintenance to keep it working properly.  Maintenance includes keeping the pit itself clean, as sediment that is in the perimeter drain tile can find its way into the pit and clog the pump.  Also, pumps can fail, so it proper operating condition should be verified a couple of times a year.  In addition, the discharge pipe needs to be clear of any debris to keep the water flowing away from the house.  Any of these items can prevent the system from working properly, leading to a wet basement.

A qualified plumbing contractor specializing in residential service work can perform this maintenance very quickly and economically.  In addition, they can assist you in the installation of a sump pump system if your home does not have one.  Removing ground water away from the home is the most important step in keeping your basement dry!

Basic Types of Backup Sump Pumps

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.

Do You Need a Sump Pump?

If your home has a basement that floods, a sump pump is often the most effective way of keeping it dry.  Sump pumps are usually more effective than barrier type waterproofing systems.  Waterproofing systems are designed to keep the water from entering your basement through cracks in the walls, but they cannot prevent water from finding its way under the wall and entering your basement at the junction of the floor and wall, through a drain in the floor, or through a crack or other defect in the floor.

Additionally, waterproofing systems are most effective at keeping out water runoff from rain or melting snow.  If your home is in an area where the water table rises above the level of your basement floor, your best bet for keeping the basement dry is a sump pump.

Sump pumps are installed in a well in your basement floor that collects water before it intrudes into your basement.  The well can collect rainwater runoff as well as water from rising ground water.  When the water level in the well reaches a certain height, a float switch is activated and the water is pumped safely away from your home.

Sump pumps can be purchased at your local home improvement store, but for a truly effective system you should have your sump pump installed by an experienced plumbing contractor.  Proper design and installation of the sump pump system is critical for effective operation.  A good plumbing contractor can help you select the right size sump pump system for your home.