Sump pumps are a very important part of your plumbing system. They are designed to move water seepage from your basement to outside of your home, through a discharge line. To ensure that yours is in good working condition, yearly inspections are recommended in the early spring. To maximize the lifespan of your sump pump, you will want to get the right size and type of pump for your living space. This begins with having an understanding of the sump pump unit and the basics of its operation. However, you should also keep in mind that even if your sump pump worked once for your home, there may come a time when it won’t operate the same as it did when it was brand new. Here are some signs that it is time for you to replace your sump pump.
The Motor Is Not Working Properly
If any part of your sump pump’s motor begins to malfunction, you could be at high risk for flooding. Should it become stuck or fail, you will need to replace the motor or the entire unit. This will depend on how severe the damage is but often replacing the entire unit makes more sense.
The Pump Is Running Constantly
If your sump pump is always running, even if it is sunny out, then you most likely need to replace it. This means that your unit is unable to handle the water that is flowing into it. There are a lot of reasons why your pump is running too much:
- Float switch problems
- Broken or missing valve
- The wrong-sized or type of sump pump was installed
- There is continuous rainfall that has been over-stressing your sump pump
- Improper installation causing the float to get stuck inside the pail
- Discharge line is too close to the foundation of the house
If this is the case, you should get a professional to check it out as soon as possible. The more the problem persists, the worse it will get. If your pump is running constantly and is not discharging any water, the pump will eventually “dead head” causing the motor to burn out.
Your Sump Pump Is At The End Of Its Lifetime
In general, sump pumps can last about five to seven years on average. However, it is possible for certain units to keep going for a few decades. Some pedestal pumps can even run for up to 30 years as they are not submerged under water. It’s important to keep up on your sump pump’s performance, especially if it is an older unit, since you might need to start thinking about replacing it.
Unusual Vibrations
When your sump pump sucks in debris, the impellers will bend and dent, which causes the unit to start vibrating more than normal. If you let these vibrations continue, you could run into future problems with your pump. Although you can re-bend the impellers, you might harm it even more. It might be a better idea to replace your sump pump in cases like these.
Issues Turning On And Off
Do you find that your sump pump constantly cycles on and off? It could be that the basin is too small for the amount of water that is coming into your basement or the discharge line is too close to the house, causing all the water to seep back into the weeping tile and back into the pail. If you suspect that you are having some power or float switch issues with your sump pump, don’t attempt to fix it on your own. Having your local experts remedy these problems or replace your sump pump entirely will be much safer.