{"id":19782,"date":"2025-07-02T15:24:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T15:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/?post_type=blog&amp;p=19782"},"modified":"2025-07-02T15:24:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T15:24:46","slug":"5-critical-reasons-your-sump-pump-failed-after-the-rain-and-how-to-fix-it-before-it-gets-worse","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/blog\/5-critical-reasons-your-sump-pump-failed-after-the-rain-and-how-to-fix-it-before-it-gets-worse\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Critical Reasons Your Sump Pump Failed After the Rain (And How to Fix It Before It Gets Worse)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is your sump pump not working after a downpour? After a heavy summer rainstorm, the last thing any homeowner wants to find is standing water in the basement. That\u2019s exactly what your sump pump is there to prevent\u2014so when it <em>doesn\u2019t<\/em> work, it can lead to stress, damage, and costly repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re dealing with water issues after the storm, here are the most common reasons your sump pump may have failed\u2014plus what steps you can take to minimize the damage and prevent it from happening again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power Loss or Tripped Breaker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most common causes of sump pump failure is simple: no power. Thunderstorms often knock out electricity, and without power, your pump is just a piece of equipment sitting in your basement. Even after the power returns, a <strong>tripped breaker<\/strong> or <strong>GFCI outlet<\/strong> can keep it from turning back on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>What to do<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check your electrical panel for tripped breakers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure the pump is still plugged in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reset any GFCI outlets nearby<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If everything looks normal but the pump isn\u2019t running, move on to the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford-new\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/954\/2017\/07\/sweage-backup-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"sump pump not working after rain\n\" class=\"wp-image-19543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/954\/2017\/07\/sweage-backup-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/954\/2017\/07\/sweage-backup-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/954\/2017\/07\/sweage-backup-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/954\/2017\/07\/sweage-backup.jpeg 1422w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Septic cesspool pumping into tank by suction hose under high pressure. The sump contains pollution sludge sewage water black wastewater and faeces plus excrements from the family home, especially toilet waste, washing machine and kitchen sink and bathroom. Waste water is treated in a waste water treatment plant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clogged or Blocked Discharge Pipe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sump pumps work by moving water from your basement to the outside of your home. But if the <strong>discharge pipe<\/strong> is clogged with mud, leaves, gravel, or even small animals, water has nowhere to go. That can cause the pump to shut down or overheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>What to do<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inspect the discharge line for visible blockages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure the end of the pipe is free and clear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm it\u2019s angled away from the foundation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regular cleaning of the area around your discharge pipe goes a long way in preventing this.  Want more detailed maintenance tips? Check out this guide from <a>This Old House on Sump Pump Maintenance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stuck Float Switch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The float switch is a key part of your sump pump\u2014it tells the system when the water level is high enough to turn on. But over time, floats can become tangled, stuck, or jammed inside the pit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>What to do<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gently lift the float switch by hand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Listen to hear if the pump motor activates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If not, the switch may need to be replaced<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A stuck float can be fixed easily, but if left unchecked, it will leave your home unprotected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pump Burnout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your sump pump is <strong>older<\/strong>, <strong>undersized<\/strong>, or <strong>overworked<\/strong> (especially during back-to-back storms), the motor can burn out. It may still hum, but it won\u2019t move water\u2014or worse, it may be completely dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>What to do<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the motor hums but nothing is happening, shut it off immediately<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A replacement may be needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider upgrading to a pump with higher capacity or better durability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t wait for another storm to find out your pump is on its last legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">No Battery Backup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many homeowners are surprised to find out that their sump pump only works when the power is on. If your home <strong>lost power<\/strong> during the storm\u2014even for a short time\u2014your pump may have been offline when you needed it most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2705 <strong>What to do<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Invest in a battery backup system or water-powered backup pump<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test your existing backup system regularly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This one-time investment can save thousands in property damage later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/117\/2022\/01\/Sump-Pump-3-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"sump pump\" class=\"wp-image-19017\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sump pump in a  home basement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Already Have Water in the Basement? Here\u2019s What to Do:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Turn off power<\/strong> to the affected area if it\u2019s safe to do so<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t wait<\/strong>\u2014water must be removed within 24\u201348 hours to prevent mold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Call a professional<\/strong> to help extract the water, dry the space, and prevent future issues<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <strong>PuroClean of Wilton | Ridgefield<\/strong> and <strong>PuroClean of Greenwich | Stamford<\/strong>, we specialize in storm response and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/services\/water-damage-restoration\/\">water damage restoration<\/a>. We\u2019re available 24\/7 to help homeowners in CT and NY recover quickly and safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udcde Call us or visit: <a>www.puroclean.com\/ps-ct<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is your sump pump not working after a downpour? After a heavy summer rainstorm, the last thing any homeowner wants to find is standing water in the basement. That\u2019s exactly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":583,"featured_media":19337,"template":"","blog-category":[],"class_list":["post-19782","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/583"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/19782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/stamford-ct-puroclean-stamford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=19782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}