In parts of the USA like Chicagoland, flooding is an ever-present threat for homeowners. But sump pumps give many homeowners a way to avert this threat with minimal effort. For such homeowners, sump pumps are a last line of defense against basement flooding.
The basic idea of a sump pump is that it gives you the chance to sleep, work or go on vacation with the assurance that your home is safe from flooding, says TE Johnson & Sons Management. This is why when a sump pump fails to do its job and your home gets flooded, it can be distressing.
Sump pumps are designed to work automatically, versus being manually operated by the owner, so when they fail the impact can be devastating. This is because you will often go about your daily life under the false belief that your home is safe from flooding when it is not.
But this doesn’t have to be your experience.
Most sump pump failures do NOT happen without some early warning signs. However, homeowners often miss or misinterpret those signs. It is possible to avert sump pump issues in your home if you stay up-to-date with your sump pump maintenance.
In this article, you will find a list of signs that tell you when your sump pump is approaching failure and needs urgent attention.
Critical signs that your sump pump needs immediate attention
Depending on the severity of the signs, they can either mean that your sump pump is damaged and needs to be fixed or that it is time to replace it.
Excessive noise and vibration
The sump pump should make a humming noise when it is pumping, but the sound should not be very loud or annoying. If a sump pump vibrates excessively or makes a lot of noise when pumping, it could be that the impeller is damaged. Your sump pump will also make loud noises if it is not in the right position. If this problem is not fixed immediately, it will lead to worse problems that can force you to replace the sump pump prematurely.
The age of the sump pump
The age of a sump pump affects its performance. An aging pump is more predisposed to problems and these problems will happen more frequently. With good maintenance, you should expect your sump pump to last an average of ten years. If the sump pump is near or past its retirement age, you may want to replace it. The safety of your home is too essential to entrust to an aging sump pump.
Visible signs of rust and corrosion
Sump pumps are constantly in contact with water. As a result, the metal parts inside them can start to rust. But this happens at such a slow pace that it is not visible and does not affect the operation of the sump pump. However, if you start to see signs of rust and corrosion on the body of the sump pump, it means it is due for repair or replacement.
Reduced pumping capacity
If the sump pump is no longer as effective as it used to be, it is time to replace it. You may see the signs of a declining sump pump in the form of water pooling inside your sump basin. In heavy rainfall, a sump pump that cannot work at full capacity is a huge risk. If the pump is overwhelmed by runoff, your home will flood. Do not try to repair a dying sump pump; replace it.
Short-cycling or continuous operation
Short cycling is when the sump pump powers on and off within very short intervals. This typically means that the pump is not removing water from the pit efficiently. The most common cause of this problem is a stuck float switch. A related problem is when the sump pump fails to power off. The problem is usually caused by a stuck float switch. Both issues require urgent attention because they can damage your sump pump.
Tripped circuit
Normally, the operations of your sump pump should not interfere with the circuit breaker. But if the circuit breakers trip every time the sump pump activates, there is damaged wiring or other problems in the sump pump. Frequent power outages can cause electrical components inside a sump pump to malfunction, resulting in circuit tripping.
Increased repair costs
If your sump pump is burning a hole in your pocket because it has become too costly to run, it is time to get a new one. The issues with a sump pump can become so frequent that fixing them no longer makes economic sense. If your sump pump is at this point, it is time to replace it.
To sum it up, regardless of which problems you are experiencing in your home and whether you think you should repair or replace the sump pump, you need an experienced plumber by your side. A good plumber can minimize the cost and problems with owning and operating a sump pump.