8 common reasons for sump pump failure and 2 helpful tips to avoid costly repairs

Posted: April 23, 2011

 

April Showers may bring May Flowers – but this is the time of year when water is most likely to seep into your basement too. Homeowners depend on sump pumps to keep their basements and homes dry. Unfortunately, rain storms and power outages also go together. If you have an electric sump pump with no back up system, your sump pump may fail just when you need it most.

 

 8 most common reasons why your electric sump pump may fail:

  1. power outage
  2. the pump may be burned out, unplugged, or jammed with mud, stones (or small toys volunteered by the children in the home!)
  3. a broken impeller or drive shaft
  4. the float switch is stuck or broken
  5. a tripped circuit breaker, a blown fuse, or damaged power feed line
  6. too much water
  7. a clogged or frozen discharge pipe
  8. the sump basin may be too small

*(tip: a residential sump basin should have a minimum inner diameter of 18 inches and should be at least 22 inches deep)*

Sump pump failure can lead to thousands of dollars in water damage to your home!

Two easy steps to take to make sure you are protected:

     The first rule of prevention is to keep your sump pump clean. Clogging is a major issue in sump pump maintenance. At least once a year check and clear dirt, debris and other foreign objects blocking in the inlet screen (this includes plastic toy army men or legos inserted by curious and creative children!)

*(To properly clean your sump pump, use a pair of rubber gloves to remove all debris. Next, take a garden hose and fill the pump with water. As you fill the pump with water, the float will rise causing the pump to activate again. If your float rises but doesn’t start the system, it is time to consult the troubleshooting section in your sump pump manual.)*

     Second, check your homeowner's policy to make sure it carries an endorsement or language insuring after a sump pump failure.  Too often homeowners are confronted with the tragic truth that they have no coverage for water damage only after the damage has occurred. Taking these tips can save you time, aggravation, and money!