Tag Archives: replacing a sump pump

Feb '23

7 Signs It’s Time For A Sump Pump Replacement

A functional sump pump is your first defense against flooding in the basement or other low-lying areas of your house. The sump pump makes it possible to know that your home is safe from flood damage even when you are away from the property, explains RedSail Property Management. It relieves you of the need to watch for signs of impending floods.

That is why it is vital to ensure your sump pump is always in good shape. As far as basement flooding is concerned, there is no worse scenario than to think your home is protected by a sump pump only to wake up to a flood inside the house. Sadly, this happens often, and most times, it is due to a sump pump failure that the homeowner failed to detect.

Sump pumps fail for several reasons. Sometimes, the problem can be as simple as a stuck float that fails to activate the sump pump switch. Other times, it could be due to a frozen/clogged discharge line or improper maintenance of the pump by the owner. Lastly, your sump pump is also likely to fail if it has reached the end of its useful life.

Many homeowners have no clue how long the sump pump in their home is supposed to last, so they keep using the machine long after it has passed its expiration date. The problem with doing that is a sump pump that is past its replacement date becomes increasingly unstable. The machine is going to lose efficiency, and it is also more likely to fail.

How do you know when it is time to replace the sump pump in your home?

7 signs it is time to replace your sump pump

Before we talk about how to know when it is time to replace your sump pump, let’s discuss how long a sump pump should last. On average, you should expect 7-10 years of service out of your sump pump. But how long the machine lasts depends on the quality of installation and maintenance, the rate of use, how much water it has to displace, and the average runtime.

If your sump pump is over seven years – nearing its 10th year – it is a good idea to replace it. A new sump pump does not cost a lot, but the damage that can happen if that old sump pump fails will cost you tens of thousands of dollars to fix. In addition to the age of the system, here are the other signs that it is time to replace your home sump pump.

Excessive vibration when running

Sump pump impellers are balanced to minimize stress on the shaft when they spin. A bent or damaged impeller will wobble and cause the entire pump to vibrate. It places pressure on the shaft and predisposes the sump pump to fail.

The motor won’t stop running

The sump pump will run continuously if it handles more water than it should. Your home’s sump pump should be carefully chosen to match the volume of water that enters the basement. If a sump pump runs continuously, it is too small for your home.

The sump pump doesn’t power on

Common reasons a sump pump might fail to come on are; issues with the float, a broken switch, loss of power, or a damaged motor. The pump motor will get damaged if the machine sucks up a lot of sediment.

Strange noises from the sump pump

During normal functioning, a sump pump should only emit a low hum. If the sump pump produces anything higher than a low hum, it is because the sump pump has damaged or worn parts.

Frequently cycles on and off

When a sump pump cycles on and off frequently, it is usually because the sump basin is too small for the volume of water coming into the basement. The motor may burn if the sump pump frequently cycles on and off.

Visible rust on the sump pump

Pay attention to rust-colored marks on the body of a sump pump. They could be a sign of corrosion on the sump pump battery terminals. It could also signify that iron bacteria are active in the water and interfering with the sump pump.

You need a backup system

If your area sees a lot of flooding and thunderstorms are bad enough to knock out the power, you may want to invest in a second sump pump. A secondary pump that is installed with a built-in battery backup system will protect your home if the primary sump pump loses power.

If you are thinking of replacing your sump pump, when is the best time to do it? It is best to replace sump pumps in early spring, early fall, or winter. Waiting until the middle of spring will leave you with higher costs. If you see any sign that it is time to replace the sump pump, you ought to do it today.

Feb '22

Signs You Need to Replace Your Sump Pump

As a rule, sump pumps don’t get a lot of attention. They are part of the forgotten components of your home’s plumbing system. We only pay any attention to sump pumps when they stop working. In other words, most homeowners will wait until they have a flood in the basement before they realize their sump pump is no longer functioning.

That defeats the whole purpose of having a sump pump in your basement. Sump pumps are installed in the home for the unique reason that you do not want to wake up to a flooded basement. But as T-Square Properties warns, that is what you will get if the sump pump fails without your knowledge. To avoid this situation, always keep the sump pump ready.

Even if a sump pump has kept your home dry in the past, it is no reason to believe it will continue to do so into the future. Sump pumps may fail without warning. At times, you may have to replace a functional sump pump. That becomes necessary when the pump begins to show signs of failure, and you are afraid it might fail at the worst possible time.

How long do sump pumps last?

Sump pumps last between 7 and 10 years, depending on several factors. Some of the things that influence the performance and lifespan of a sump pump include; the frequency of usage, how long it works during each cycle, and the volume of water it displaces. Sumps pumps that see a lot of use will naturally wear out faster than those you use infrequently.

However, this is not the only factor that determines the lifespan of your sump pump. The quality of care the sump pump receives is a tremendous factor in its longevity. A sump pump that sees heavy use will outlast one you use less often if the heavily used one gets more attention than the other one. How do you know your sump pump is malfunctioning, and it is time to replace your sump pump?

There are five things you should look at to make this decision. If more than one of these problems applies to your sump pump, it is time to replace it. Even if you can fix a problematic sump pump, the cost of those repairs will often be enough to get you a new sump pump. Moreover, a sump pump you recently fixed may still fail you when you need it most.

Five signs it is time to replace your sump pump.

The sump pump is old

Although you would like your sump pump to last a decade, the truth is it might not. More sump pump failures are due to aging than from any other cause. That is because if a sump pump has worked well in the past, homeowners tend to expect it to keep working in the future. As a result, they do not pay enough attention to the sump pump until they deal with costly flood damage in their basement.

The sump pump runs constantly

Sump pumps automatically power up when the sump pit fills with water and goes off after discharging the water. You have a serious problem if your sump pump comes on but doesn’t go off. A sump pump that is running without water will overheat very fast. Sump pumps may act this way if there is a fault with the float switch, check valve, or the pump is too small for the basin.

The sump pump is clogged

Sump pumps handle a certain amount of debris in the water that flows through them. But a sump pump can be overwhelmed if there is too much sediment in the water. If this happens, the sump pump’s impeller fan blades can jam. The pump inlet and discharge line may also get clogged. Iron ochre in water will also clog the sump pump. All these interfere with the performance of your sump pump and damage it.

The sump pump works erratically

If a sump pump works for too long and then in short sporadic bursts, you have a problem. A constant eruption of activity from your sump pump means water isn’t making it to the discharge line. The pump is simply cycling the same water over and over again. A sump pump will do this if the float valve has failed, there is loose wiring, or the pump doesn’t have enough horsepower to do its job.

The sump pump is noisy

A certain amount of noise is usual when your sump pump is working. But if the sump pump roars when it works, makes rattling noises, or you can hear the sound of metal against metal and gurgling noises from the equipment, you have a problem. Excessive noise from a sump pump could be due to a damaged impeller, malfunctioning backflow valves, or improper installation.