If your property is susceptible to flooding, you likely have a sump pump to help remove excess water. These pumps help protect your belongings, family, and home from water damage. However, like any other household appliance, they can experience occasional problems that require professional help.
Clogged Discharge Line
Unfortunately, if your sump pump basin doesn’t have a lid, debris could enter the water in your pit. As the water and debris get sucked into your sump pump, it will be forced into your discharge line. Over time, your discharge line may accumulate debris, and it will eventually clog. A clogged sump pump will be unable to pump water out of your basement, and your basement will flood.
Malfunctioning Float Switch
The float switch is one of the most important parts of your sump pump. This switch is responsible for turning on your sump pump whenever water levels get too high. Fortunately, once debris enters your sump pump, it can get jammed underneath your float switch. This can cause your switch to get stuck in the on or off position.
When stuck in the on position, your sump pump will continue to run even when water levels are below the set level. If you don’t catch it early enough, your sump pump could overheat and eventually fail. When stuck in the off position, your sump pump will not turn on when water levels get too high, and your basement or crawlspace will flood.
Faulty Check Valve
Your sump pump is in a basin below ground level. It has to force water up through the discharge line to the outside of your home, working against gravity. While the pump can force water outside on its own, it still needs a check valve to stop water from backflowing into the pump. If your pump seems to be running nonstop or little water is coming from the discharge line, you might have a faulty check valve.
Odd Noises
A noisy sump pump is cause for concern. Most equipment makes some noise when in operation, but excessive noise generally indicates a problem. Loud humming, for example, may indicate that something is stuck in the discharge line.
If the impeller is jammed by debris, you might hear a grinding noise. A banging noise is more likely linked to a discharge pipe becoming loose from its fasteners. A faulty check valve might make a gurgling noise. If you hear a clanging noise, one of the components of your entire sump pump system has likely become loose.
Overwhelmed Sump Pump
Over time, groundwater levels can change, and your home might experience more groundwater flooding than it once did. If you start to notice that water seems to be overflowing from your sump pump pit, your pump cannot keep up with the demands. If you notice this happening consistently, it may be time to consider upgrading your pump to one with a higher pumping capacity.
Frequent Cycling
One particularly frustrating issue you may deal with is that your sump pump seems to be turning on and off very frequently. There could be numerous reasons, including an incorrectly sized pump and a malfunctioning float switch. This particular issue needs to be assessed by a plumbing professional to determine the root cause and provide options for restoring function.
Poor Installation
Most modern sump pumps are submersible and need water in the pit to function correctly. If you notice there’s no water in the pit of your newly installed sump pump, it will not be able to move water effectively. The sump pump might have been installed with the float switch at the incorrect level, which means that the pump will run excessively and remove more water than necessary from the pit. This could result in damage to the pump and other problems.
Power Loss
If your sump pump fails to turn on when water levels get too high, it could be due to a lack of power. With groundwater flooding being most common when nasty thunderstorms come through, it’s not uncommon for your sump pump not to run because the power has been knocked out to your home. A power surge may even have caused the circuit breaker for your sump pump to trip. You may want to consider installing a battery backup for your pump so that it will continue to operate even when the power goes out.
Burnt Up Motor
The average sump pump motor will last anywhere between 7 and 10 years. However, many factors can alter the lifespan of your sump pump motor. These include things like how much maintenance it receives, how often it runs, and so forth. As your motor approaches the end of its lifespan, you’ll notice that it will no longer be able to keep up with your pumping demands. Eventually, the motor will not turn on and need to be replaced.
Jammed Impeller
The impeller on your sump pump is responsible for sucking in water to divert outside. When excess debris gets into your sump pump basin, it can get pulled into the sump pump’s impeller. This can cause a jamming of the impeller blades, which will prevent further water from entering the pump. In some cases, the debris may even damage one of the impeller blades.
Frozen Discharge Line
If the outdoor temperature has dipped below freezing, it can cause any water above the frost level to freeze. If your sump pump discharge line isn’t installed appropriately below the frost level, it can experience freezing. You’ll notice that your pump seems to be running like normal but no water is exiting the line. Once the line is thawed out, it’s best to reinstall it below the frost line for future use. Additionally, it should be checked for any potential cracks, as frozen water will cause the pipe to expand.
Plugged Screen
To prevent unwanted debris from entering the housing of your sump pump, it will have a small screen. Unfortunately, if you get too much debris in your basin, it can end up being pulled tight against the small screen and block it from allowing water to enter the pump. The pump will need to be turned off and the screen cleaned before it will start working correctly.
Discharge Line Leaks
Since your sump pump is responsible for moving water, it’s very easy to tell when there’s a crack or hole in the pump or the discharge line. If you notice water leaking out of your discharge line, then you’ll need to have a plumber address the leak before it gets any worse.
Reliable Sump Pump Repair Service
Southport Home Services offers reliable sump pump repair service for the entire Madison, WI community. We can also provide professional help for all your heating, cooling, indoor air quality, commercial, water treatment, drain cleaning, sewer cleaning, fixture installation, gas lines, and water heater needs. Simply give us a call today to schedule a consultation with one of our very knowledgeable plumbing professionals.
