What Happens When Your Sump Pump Fails?
Sump pumps are the silent heroes of basements, and homes in general. Without any hoopla, they quietly protect your home from flooding, and living in Michigan, you know basement flooding can happen quite easily. It only takes that one major rainfall or storm to foil your sump pump’s success rate. Our professional plumbers at Team Bob’s Heating, Cooling , Plumbing recommend keeping your sump pump regularly maintained to prevent any mishaps.
If you do run into a sump pump failure, some of the common reasons our plumbers typically see can easily be addressed to prevent a repeat failure.
No Time for a Flood of Tears
When your basement floods, a panic can set in. Water is everywhere, and your belongings are drenched. What should you do? Do not panic. Take a deep breath. You will get through this and do what it takes to prevent it from happening again.
Attempt to discover the source of the water. Many basement floods are a result of sump pump failure. If your basement is full of water and your sump pump is not pumping the water out, you can be pretty certain this is the source––a failed sump pump. Also, be sure to visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood map to investigate if your home is located in a flood area. And most definitely call one of our Team Bob’s Heating, Cooling, plumbing professional plumbers to come out to assist. We can be there quickly to stem the water rise and efficiently install a new pump.
Preventing Failure in the First Place
Sump pumps are mechanical, which inherently means no matter how much maintenance you perform on your pump, it could still fail. This said, performing regular maintenance goes a long way in preventing many of the issues causing sump pump failures, and helps in extending their life span. A typical good-quality sump pump can last eight to 12 years, though neglect usually shaves quite a few years off this number. Having a backup sump pump installed is always a wise investment and has prevented many potential calamities.
Call and speak to one of our plumbers about regular maintenance or a backup pump. Our expert plumbers can also guide you in some do-it-yourself (DIY) maintenance to help keep your sump pump healthy and happy.
Common Causes of Sump Pump Failure
While there are many reasons a sump pump can unexpectedly fail, our experts see certain failures more often than others. Our plumbers can help you with regular maintenance to identity potential problems or prevent them before a flooding disaster occurs. In the case of a failed sump pump, we can usually determine the reason for the failure—maybe one of these causes—and address the issue.
• Power failure. Your pump needs power to work. A power outage or surge, a plug that has come unplugged, or a tripped circuit could be the culprit. Sometimes a simple reboot does the trick.
• Wrong-size pump. If your pump is overwhelmed due to too much water for its size, it can’t do its job. The same goes if your pump is too large, leading to overwork. Both of these scenarios result in a shortened life span. Our experts can help you determine how much horsepower you need, so you buy the right size pump for the job.
• Stuck switch. A stuck switch is a common mechanical problem, resulting in your pump constantly running, among other consequences. This can be corrected by a simple adjustment if caught in time.
• Clogged or frozen discharge line. If your pump’s discharge line is clogged or frozen, the line’s flood water has nowhere to go but back into your basement. Our plumber can install a specialty discharge line to help with water exiting in the case of a frozen line, as well as help you prevent debris buildup in your line.
• No air relief hole in discharge line. Your pump will work harder and have a shorter life span without an air relief hole. The hole should be drilled between the pump and check valve, preventing air pressure buildup in the line.
• Lack of maintenance. As with anything in your home, regular maintenance is a small investment to make to keep your sump pump running smoothly and encourage a long life.
• Defective pump or old age. As you may have experienced, equipment sometimes fails because it is defective. Sump pumps are no exception. On occasion, this can be the reason for a failing pump. Other times the pump fails because it is worn out, and it is simply time for a replacement.
Team Bob’s Heating, Cooling , Plumbing Is Here for All Your Plumbing Needs
Sump pumps have a big responsibility in keeping your Williamsburg, MI, home dry. Whatever the reason, sometimes you find your basement flooded due to a failed sump pump. When this happens, call our trusted and highly trained Team Bob’s Heating , Cooling, Plumbing plumbers at 866-BOB-HEAT or request service online. Remember, regular maintenance goes a long way in helping sump pumps do their job.