Category Archives: sump pump failure

Why Sump Pump Failure is Considered a Plumbing Emergency

Why Sump Pump Failure is Considered a Plumbing Emergency

Plumbing emergencies are problems inside your home that can threaten your health, safety, or belongings, says Archstone Management. These problems can make some plumbing fixtures inaccessible, causing your home to become temporarily unlivable.

Examples of plumbing problems that are considered plumbing emergencies include:

  • Burst pipes: Because of the risk of flooding, water damage, and structural compromise.
  • Sewage backup: Because it poses a major health risk and can cut off access to the toilet.
  • Clogged drains: They can cut access to the toilet or bathroom and also cause flooding.
  • Damaged water heater: Because it can terminate a household’s supply of hot water.
  • Sump pump failure: If you are wondering why sump pump failure is listed as one of the plumbing emergencies that can happen in your home, it is probably because you do not fully appreciate the vital role played by your sump pump as the home’s last line of defense against basement flooding.

The critical role of a sump pump

A sump pump is an indispensable equipment for homes where flooding is a constant threat. Although they are not the only flood prevention measure you can employ in your home, sump pumps have the unique quality of being deployable right inside your house.

Sump pumps are essential for maintaining a dry and safe living space. They help prevent flooding and preserve the indoor air quality of your home and its market value. One of the best things about a sump pump is that it can operate without supervision.

This is because a sump pump can power on automatically each time it detects water inside the sump basin and also power off after it has removed the water. This eliminates the need to constantly monitor your home for signs of flooding and manually switch on the sump pump.

Your sump pump can be likened to a watchdog. But instead of looking out for human intruders, it protects your home from flooding and water damage. This is why when a sump pump fails, it can expose your home to disastrous consequences on many levels.

Effects of sump pump failure on your home

The primary effects of sump pump failure are:

Flooding

Flooding alters the nature of your home as a safe living space. It destroys comfort and safety and may even stop you from using some of the vital features of your home. Flooding can make your home unlivable.

Water damage

The physical structures of a building and the belongings inside it are at risk when the home is flooded. Fixing damaged walls, ceilings, and flooring is expensive, and personal belongings may be irreplaceable.

Structural compromise

A poorly maintained or failed sump pump can compromise the integrity of your building’s key structures. Frequent water seepage into the foundation often results from problems with the sump pump.

Poor indoor air quality

Flooding exposes your family to a higher risk of respiratory conditions and illnesses. This is because water will seep into the walls and encourage mold growth. Mold spores impair your home’s indoor air quality.

Lower property value

Ultimately, these problems can cause the value of your property to fall. Buyers do not want to buy a home with a history of flooding. The presence of mold and structural issues will damage the value of your property.

a sump pump with battery backup system in place

Your sump pump may fail due to a power outage. If this happens during a storm, the possibility that your home will be flooded is very high. Installing a battery-powered sump pump system will save you in these circumstances.

How to prevent sump pump failure

Why does a sump pump fail? If you can identify the causes of sump pump failure and create strategies for preventing them, you can protect your home from it.

Regular maintenance

Issues like a stuck float switch or a clogged discharge line can stop your sump pump from working properly. However, these problems can be solved or prevented by maintaining the sump pump on a schedule.

Test and inspect the sump pump

You should test your sump pump at least once a month and certainly at the start of each season. Before this step, you may want to inspect the entire sump pump system first.

Install a backup system

Your sump pump may fail due to a power outage. If this happens during a storm, the possibility that your home will be flooded is very high. Installing a battery-powered sump pump system will save you in these circumstances.

Upgrade your sump pump system

If the sump pump is not installed properly, is too small for your home, or the sump basin is not big enough, it will not be effective. Fixing these problems lowers the risk of sump pump failure.

Lastly, you need a professional plumber to thoroughly inspect and service the sump pump system at least once a year. This will help you detect budding issues with the sump pump and fix them before they result in a plumbing emergency in your home.

How to Avoid Sump Pump Failures and Flooding in Your Home

How to Avoid Sump Pump Failures and Flooding in Your Home

A sump pump system is one of the most effective defenses against basement flooding in your home. Sump pumps also help to prevent sewage backups. They reduce humidity levels in the house and will reduce the risk of mold in your basement.

The best thing about sump pumps is they virtually run themselves. You don’t have to manually switch them on and off. The sump pump will automatically power on to remove water from your basement and switch off after the water is pumped out of your home.

But to fully enjoy the peace of mind afforded by a sump pump, you must maintain it to prevent failure. Fall River Property Management warns that sump pump failure is a major problem for homeowners. If the sump pump fails without the owner’s knowledge, the home will be exposed to the risk of flooding.

There are many reasons sump pumps fail. Most of them can go undetected for a long time. In many cases, the homeowner only learns of the problem after the damage is done. If your home is flooded despite your sump pump, the entire purpose of the system is defeated.

How do you ensure your home is fully protected from basement flooding by avoiding sump pump failure?

a basement.

If your home is flooded despite your sump pump, the entire purpose of the system is defeated.

How to avoid sump pump failure

To prevent sump pump failure, you must know the common causes of the problem. Below are the reasons your sump pump may fail and what you can do about them. Note that to detect these problems before they create an emergency in your home, you must inspect your sump pump regularly.

Stuck float switch

The float switch is the device that turns the sump pump on and off. It is a buoyant switch that monitors the water level in the sump pit to determine when to trigger the sump pump. Debris around the float switch can jam it. It can also be displaced by the vibration of the motor. Clean, adjust and test the float switch every time you inspect the sump pump. To test the float switch, pour some water into the sump pit until the water level is high enough for the sump pump to power up. Wait until the pit is empty to see if the motor powers off.

Clogged lines

Clogs interfere with or even prevent the proper function of your sump pump. Clogs can happen in various areas of the system, and they are mostly caused by debris. If one of the following lines/pipes is clogged, the pump will not be able to move water out:

  • Clogged discharge line: If the discharge line is blocked, discharged water will back up into the pump and cause it to fail.
  • Clogged intake screen: The intake screen may be blocked by debris. It will force the pump to work harder, ultimately leading to failure.
  • Frozen discharge line: This mostly happens in winter. It has the same effect as a clogged discharge line. Adding insulation to the pipe can prevent this issue.

The way to solve some of these problems is to inspect and clean your sump pump regularly.

Loss of power

The sump pump will lose power if there is a power outage during a storm. Another common reason a sump pump may be disconnected from power is if someone in the home unplugs it and fails to plug it back or the circuit breaker is accidentally turned off. Problems with the home’s wiring can also cause this problem. A high water alarm system will alert you if your sump pump is not working. You may also add a second layer of protection with a battery-powered backup pump.

a modern basement.

In the same way that the sump pit can be inadequate for your home, the sump pump can be too small for your house.

Undersized sump pit

If your sump pit is too small for the volume of water that enters your home, the sump pump will be overwhelmed and ultimately fail. The size of your sump pit should be determined by the average rainfall amount in your area and whether your home is close to a large water body. Soil drainage is another factor that can influence how much water enters your sump pit. If you have had sump pump failures in the past, you may want to have an expert check the sump pit to see if it is adequate for your home’s needs.

Wrong size pump

In the same way that the sump pit can be inadequate for your home, the sump pump can be too small for your house. Sump pumps come in various sizes. The right size depends on the volume of water you expect to enter the basement. As a rule, it is always better to have a sump pump with excess capacity than one that perfectly suits the needs of your home.

To conclude, the best way to avoid sump pump failure is to have a plumber thoroughly inspect or repair your sump pump system and make recommendations on how you can improve the system. Regular sump pump inspections will also let you catch problems before they become emergencies.

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