Stress Less About Water in Your Basement With a Reliable Sump Pump

What Is a Sump Pump?

Generally speaking, a “sump” is a pit that collects water or some other type of liquid. A sump pump is a device that sits in a sump under your home, collects excess water, then pumps it back out to an area well away from the foundation. The main goal of a sump pump is to keep any underground portions of your home (namely, the basement) free of water, so that you avoid any potential water damage over time.

How Long Will My Sump Pump Last?

Most sump pumps will last around a decade, but this depends a lot on how your specific model functions in your home. The amount of work it has to put in will affect its longevity. If your basement is more prone to flood, then your sump pump will be turning on more often, and will thus face more wear. The cleanliness of the water can have a big impact on this too.

What Can Go Wrong?

Some of the most common sump pump-related problems include:

• Debris Buildup: Sometimes the pit itself can fill up with debris, which then gets into the pump and triggers damage and inefficiency.
• Clogged Discharge Lines: Your sump pump system’s discharge line should have an air gap that allows water to escape if the pipes are frozen up or clogged. If this area gets clogged, your system won’t function like it’s supposed to.
• Missing/Broken Check Valve: The check valve keeps water from entering back into your discharge pipe. Your sump pump works hard to push water multiple feet up and away from your basement, but a broken check valve leads to backflow, which puts more strain on the system as a whole.
• Float Switch Stuck: The float switch is what senses rising water and alerts the sump pump to turn on. But if it’s stuck on or jammed, your device will simply continue to run, whether there’s water there or not, which increases the chances of experiencing damage and can decrease its lifespan.
• Not Turning On: Is your sump pump not turning on when it should? There are a few possibilities as to why this might be. The float switch might be stuck in the “off” position, the pump may not be getting power (check your outlets), or it could be overheating (or burnt out). If you need some insight, give us a call, and we can look things over.
• Overworked: Sometimes primary sump pumps are just simply overworked, causing them to break down prematurely. This is a big reason why having back-up sump pumps installed is such a must!