How Your Sump Pump Causes Basement Humidity in Waterford, WI

One of the most expensive home problems is also the most subtle. Humidity can sneak up on you seemingly overnight, then cause all sorts of damage. 

A failing sump pump is one of the biggest culprits of causing humidity issues inside the house. This excess moisture can negatively impact your health by worsening asthma symptoms or making your home feel unusually muggy. Over time, it can gradually build up in the dark, cooler places of the house and cause mold or rot. 

Mold is hazardous and expensive to remove, leading to a seemingly never-ending snowball of renovations and upgrades. Fortunately, you have solutions.

Think you have basement humidity in Waterford, WI? Even if you have a newer sump pump, keep reading to learn warning signs of a struggling sump pump and how you can stop this problem in its tracks.

4 Signs You Have Basement Moisture in WI

You’re reading this because you’ve already noticed a few signs that something isn’t right with your basement. Let’s review the most obvious signs you have excess moisture, then connect them to a malfunctioning sump pump.

1. Musty Smell

You may have noticed humidity problems in your basement by the funny smell of the air. It may seem musty, dirty, or ‘mildewy’. This smell is a classic sign of mold and rot growing beneath your floorboards, in your walls, or along fixtures. 

2. Sticky Air

Basement humidity in Waterford can feel like stickiness to your skin and hair that never goes away. If you’ve ever gone back upstairs to compare how the rest of the house air feels, you almost certainly have a moisture problem in your basement. 

3. Condensation 

Have you noticed beads of moisture gathering up on your basement walls? This condensation is a mixture of humid air and cold temperatures, both huge warning signs you’ve got more problems to come. 

4. Discoloration

While a little discoloration on your walls can come from age, you shouldn’t notice significant changes in color. Heavy brown or yellow stains, especially at the base of the wall, is a surefire sign you have water collecting beneath the surface.

A whole-home dehumidifier can help immensely in reducing excess moisture without making your home too dry. In the meantime, let’s look at the most common sump pump problems in the state and how they could be affecting your basement. 

5 Primary Sump Pump Issues in Waterford, WI

Basement moisture in Wisconsin is quite common thanks to the state’s four seasons and higher humidity levels. If you’ve noticed a sticky and muggy basement, you’re likely dealing with at least one of these sump pump problems. 

1. Standing Water

If you see standing water, you need professional help immediately. Not only is this a sign of a sump pump issue, but standing water gradually causes mold or rot. 

This problem usually emerges from a sump pump that can’t pump water back out. Your sump pump’s motor may be overheated or broken. 

2. Running Continuously 

Have you noticed your sump pump doesn’t seem to turn off? Running continuously usually points to a float switch that got stuck. Without a float switch to send the right signals to your sump pump, it will run constantly and eventually burn out your motor. 

3. No Discharging Water

Basement humidity in Waterford can sometimes come from water that has nowhere else to go. A sump pump that is technically turning on and running, yet not discharging water, points to more serious damage that needs to be addressed. 

This issue can come from frozen pipes in the winter or a blockage in your drainage system. 

4. Unusual Noises

Your sump pump should sound like sloshing water and light humming while it’s working. You shouldn’t hear any sounds like metal on metal or ‘burping’, both of which can point to clogs or motor problems. 

5. Power Outages

Wisconsin is no stranger to heavy thunderstorms, and Waterford is no exception. Power outages can stop your sump pump from working, or even cause a flood, unless you have a back-up power system.

There are many ways you can reduce the risk of flooding by upgrading your basement. With Southport just a call away, we can inspect your sump pump and find a solution that protects your home.

How Can Southport Fix Your Basement Humidity in WI? 

Basement humidity isn’t a problem that goes away on its own. The lower levels of the home generally have weaker airflow, making it easy for stagnant air to build up and cause problems over time.

Southport Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling is a local home services business that specializes in helping Wisconsin homeowners. We offer sump pump installation, repair, and maintenance services that target the root issue behind failing equipment. Not only will you enjoy the steady performance of a well-maintained sump pump, but you can also keep excess humidity at bay. 

When you work with one of our technicians, we can stop by and recommend a variety of solutions, such as:

• A new sump pump replacement or add-on to reduce humidity or clogs

• Seasonal maintenance to help your sump pump prepare for spring thaw

• General inspection to look for issues like faulty float switches or broken motors

Are you dealing with too much basement humidity in Waterford, WI? It’s time to reach out to one of our technicians before the problem gets worse. 

Call Southport for an Inspection Today

Spring and winter are some of the worst seasons for humidity, but basement humidity can happen year-round. Combined with stagnant air and cold temperatures, excess moisture will become an expensive problem before you know it.

On a tight budget? We can help. Check out our coupons and financing options so you can protect your home from ongoing water damage. 

Stay one step ahead. Fill out our form to get an inspection from one of our sump pump specialists.