The sump pump is one of the most unappreciated fixtures in the house, until you need one. Yet many homes, particularly older homes, do not have one.
The amount of rainfall this past spring, when the ground was still frozen, and again in June, resulted in water in the basement. For many, it meant installing a sump pump for the first time with the appropriate piping.
What does a Sump Pump do?
The sump pump’s job is to remove water from a basement or crawl space and take it outside the house where it belongs.
Water can enter the basement from a variety of sources. A spring melt and/or hard rain or a high water table while the ground is still frozen means that the water has nowhere to go. If there are any foundation cracks or if the caulking around basement windows is old, there is the potential for water to enter.
In addition, if your home is located in a low-lying area, or there is a high water table, or if the property is susceptible to flooding, a sump pump is necessary to remove water.
The ground around the foundation should slope away from the house to take water away.
Downspouts that haven’t been directed away from the house may need an extension to prevent pooling too close to the foundation.
After a process of elimination of possible causes and/or addressing what you can, water may still enter the basement after a heavy rain.
Installing a sump pump may provide a solution.
How Old is Your Sump Pump?
Sump pumps are not infallible. That’s why it’s a good idea to test them from time to time.
Check to make sure the float is working properly. Does it move freely, up and down, and turn on when the water level rises? If not, the pump won’t turn on, and flooding may occur.
Is there a battery backup sump pump, or a home guard style system, or a sump jet style sump pump? If a high water alarm system wasn’t included with your pump, consider installing one. It functions as an early warning system for potential problems.
The battery backup sump pump will work as a secondary pump if the hydro goes out. Its function is to back up, but if there is a high flow entering the sump pit, it may not be able to keep up.
Check and change the batteries regularly.
The home guard system backup sump pump or sump jet style sump pump can only be used on a municipal water system. It also requires a testable backflow – check your local bylaws and municipal codes.
Sump pumps can fail because of age and frequency of use.
If the pump cannot remove water from the basement, check for a blocked discharge pipe or if the pipe’s interior diameter is too small for the job. Another possibility is weather – there might be a frozen pipe. That can be a common problem during the winter months with extended freezing temperatures. If the pipe is buried underground, it’s more difficult to thaw than if it is above ground.
In addition, if the pipe is blocked or plugged, the pump may burn out trying to remove water that has nowhere to go.
Check that the breaker is tripped when the pump is plugged into its own circuit. The breaker will cut the power if the pump motor shorts out, which will prevent a fire from starting.
If the sump pump is older, it may not have an overheating switch. Without one, the sump pump may overheat and cause a fire.
Is it time to replace your sump pump?
If a new sump pump is needed, Plumbtech Plumbing can supply and install it for you. Their experienced plumbers can also advise what type of sump pump is best for your situation – one with a vertical float or a horizontal float.
Both models will need a sump pit, which will need to be checked for silt/sand buildup. Setting the pump on bricks in the pit will help sand stay at the bottom, but it will still need to be removed so that it doesn’t damage the pump and shorten its life.
Also, the discharge pipe needs to be far enough away from the house; otherwise, water will come back in.
For a free estimate, call Plumbtech at 705-722-7209.