If your basement regularly floods, a sump pump is a good way to deal with the water. Like all mechanical devices, sump pumps will occasionally have issues. Here are some troubleshooting steps to consider to help diagnose why your sump isn’t working correctly.
Power Outages
One frustrating problem with your sump pump is when it won’t turn on. Your sump pump is typically wired to your home electrical system. If this is your only power source for the sump, then it won’t work during power outages. Ironically, these are often caused by the same storms that require your sump to work. This can be dealt with in two ways. If you have a whole-home generator for power outages, then ensure your sump is connected to the generator grid. If you don’t, many sumps come with battery backup systems to allow them to operate for short periods when the power is offline.
Clogged Discharge Line
One particularly frustrating issue you may experience with your sump pump is that there’s no water coming out of the discharge pipe. If your pump is not actively sucking water, look for a clog somewhere in your discharge line. This isn’t uncommon, as dirt and other debris from your basement floor can get into the pit and be sucked up into your pump. The discharge line can be unclogged with a drain snake or a high-pressure burst of water.
Frozen Discharge Line
For your sump pump to adequately do its job, it should be moving water from your basement to a location outside, away from your home’s foundation. During colder temperatures, it’s not uncommon for water to freeze in the discharge line if it’s not adequately protected. Unfortunately, when your line is frozen, it’s unable to remove water from your basement. You’ll need to unfreeze your discharge line to get it working again. To prevent this issue from happening in the first place, it’s a good idea to make sure your drainage lines are well insulated or buried below the frost line.
Broken Check Valve
If you look at the way your sump pump plumbing is designed, you’ll notice that the discharge line will flow up against gravity to the outside of your home. While the force of the pump can help to push out about one-third to two-thirds of the water in the discharge line, it still needs extra help to prevent water from backflowing into the pit. It gets this help from a check valve. If you notice that your sump pump is removing some water from the discharge line but not a whole lot, your check valve may need replacement.
Float Switch Issues
A vital component of your sump pump is its float switch, which sits on the side of the pump. As the water level rises in the basin, the float switch is naturally pushed up. This tells the sump to turn on. When the switch goes up, your sump pump turns on. Once it pumps all the water out to the level where your float switch is set, the float goes back down, turning the sump pump off.
If you notice a lot of water sitting in your basin and your sump pump isn’t turning on, then your float switch may be set too high. Conversely, if you notice that your sump pump is running often while the water level is very low, your float switch may be set too low.
A very common problem that people experience with their float switch is that it gets stuck in one position or the other. Whenever you’re switch gets stuck, it can keep your pump in the on or off position. Typically, removing whatever debris is stuck up against the float switch will help to allow it to go back to function like normal. If removing debris doesn’t work, then it’s likely the float switch has failed.
Motor Problems
At the very core of your sump pump is its motor. This motor provides power to the impeller to move water. If your sump pump simply won’t turn on and you’ve rolled out a power issue, then it’s most likely that the motor is the issue. If your sump pump is 10 to 15 years old, your motor has likely reached the end of its lifespan. However, if your sump pump is fairly new, there may be a malfunction. Have a professional assess the motor to determine the component so that it can be replaced or repaired.
Clogged Intake Screen
If you examine your sump pump, you’ll be able to find a mesh screen that covers the location where water is pulled into your pump. The screen is designed to help prevent unwanted debris from entering your pump and causing damage. Unfortunately, there can be a lot of debris in the water that your pump is trying to suck up, which can clog the mesh screen. Fortunately, this can be easily fixed by removing the debris from the mesh screen so that water can freely flow into the pump.
Impeller Issues
Another essential component of your sump pump is its impeller. This is a fan-like device that works to force water in the appropriate direction so that it can be pumped out of the basin. If you start to hear rattling, grinding, or other similar noises coming from your sump pump, it’s typically an indication there is a problem with its impeller. The impeller blades can be damaged or jammed with debris. It’s typically best to call in a plumbing professional to assess the issue and remedy it.
Undersized Pump
For a sump pump to be effective at removing water from your basement, it needs to be appropriately sized. The necessary size for your sump pump is going to depend on several factors. Some of these include the type of soil that your home sits on, the size of your basement, the size of the piping used, the vertical discharge height, and so much more. If you’ve recently had a sump pump installed and it isn’t adequately removing the water from your basement, you likely have an undersized pump. Unfortunately, the only solution here is to replace the pump with a bigger one that better fits your needs.
Smart Sumps
Newer sumps may come with a smart monitoring system. These systems can help you to detect issues without the need to spend all your time in the basement. Smart sumps can track the frequency and volume of water that the pump is moving. They will tell you when the power is out, also. This can give you an idea of when the sump is running too much or not often enough.
Reliable Sump Pump Service
First Choice Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning offers reliable sump pump service for the entire Metuchen, NJ region. We can also assist with all of your heating, cooling, oil-to-gas conversion, commercial, indoor air quality, and plumbing needs. Give us a call to schedule your next service appointment today.
