Sump Pump Failures
What is a Sump Pump
A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a sump pit. A sump pit, commonly found in the home basement, is simply a hole to collect water. The water may enter via the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system, funneling into the pit, or may arrive because of rain or because of natural ground water, if the basement is below the water table level. Sump pumps are installed particularly where basement flooding is seen as a problem, but are also used to ameliorate dampness where the water table is normally above the foundation of a home. Sump pumps send water away from a house to any place where it no longer presents a problem, such as a municipal storm drain or a dry well.
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Causes of Failure
Sump pump failures are the bane of many a homeowner. Often the failure of the pump can be traced to simple installation mistakes. High quality sump pumps can operate for years without a major malfunction. The leading cause of failure in most sump pumps tends to be a switching problem. The switch of a sump will often fail to turn on because the pump has shifted inside the sump basin. The float that operates the switch can lodge against the side of the sump basin. A sump pump backup system might be a good idea. Often flooding occurs when sump pump needs are the greatest. A soil-saturating rainstorm may cause a localized power outage. Water flowing into your sump activates the switch, but there is no electricity to pump the water.
The signs of a sump pump failure
What to check if you suspect a sump pump failure has occurred. First, look down in the pump and make sure you do not have a lot of standing water in the pump pit. If you do, check to make sure your float is not stuck in the down (off) position. Second, check for dampness around the area of the sump pump pit. If there is water around that area make sure the pump is still working properly. Third, check the perimeter of your basement walls for dampness. The reason that it might be damp around the perimeter is that the pump is not working and the water has backed up in the drain tiles and this causing the water to travel down the side of your foundation. Lastly, is the most obvious, you may have a basement full of water. In this case the pump may have failed completely or can not keep up with the water that is coming in to the pit. Remember if you do find dampness and or water in your basement make sure to have your contents, carpet, pad and walls dried out properly.
