If you ask a group of homeowners about their worst home experience, it won’t take long before you hear a story about a failed sump pump. A torrential spring storm or summertime power failure and the next thing you know the basement carpeting and furniture is soaked and photo albums and other treasures are destroyed.
A good sump pump is your first line of defense against a basement flood – weather caused by a storm, power failure, or a plumbing issue. Even if your basement is unfinished, your furnace, water heater, washer, and dryer are at risk of shorting out. Water in the basement also damages the foundation and fosters mold and mildew.
Are sump pumps unreliable? What’s with that out-of-site thing in that hole in your basement? What do you need to know to ensure it performs when you need it?
Here are some answers and practical steps you can take to ensure your sump pump is ready to perform when you need it.
How Sump Pumps Work
When water builds up around the foundation of your home, pressure pushes it through floor and walls. To relieve this pressure, drainage tiles were installed below your foundation to collect water. These tiles drain into your sump pump, operating inside a pit dug in the lowest part of your basement. The sump pump redirects water by pumping it away from the house.
The pump’s key regulating part is a switch that works like a toilet emptying its tank when flushed. The sump pump automatically “flushes” and empties the pit when it fills with water. It’s that simple.
Why Sump Pumps Fail
Your sump pump may be the most heavily used mechanical item in your home. All mechanical devices fail over time and use. Sump pumps wear out, dry out, overheat, lose lubrication, or blow a circuit if on the same one as another major appliance. In extreme rain storms, it may operate almost continuously – sometimes every 10 seconds.
In addition, since your sump pump is powered by electricity, if your home loses power, your sump pump is left powerless.
How To Prevent Sump Pump Failures
No one can tell when your sump pump will fail, but there are some things you can do to protect your home.
Operation
Make sure your sump pump is operating. Listen to hear that it’s “flushing” periodically, or test it by pouring a bucket of water into the pit. If it doesn’t flush out, you need a replacement immediately.
Battery Backup
A battery backup can protect your home and keep your sump pump running in the event of a power failure. It’s perfect for emergency outages.
The Right Size
Check with an expert technician at Flader Plumbing to make sure you have the right size sump pump for your home.
The amount of horsepower your sump pump needs is based on basement depth, drain size, and how far the water needs to be pumped. Our expert technicians can evaluate your property and recommend the best solution for your home.
Maintenance
Like with every mechanical appliance, proper maintenance is necessary to keep your sump pump running.
Pet toys, dryer lint, or other loose articles can sometimes slip into the pit and clog the operating mechanism, but an annual inspection by a Flader technician will ensure there is no debris that may interfere or block the operation of the float.
Clear Surroundings
Keep your gutters and drains clear and direct downspouts away from the foundation. This will help prevent your sump pump from being overwhelmed by excessive water.
These practical actions will protect your home and relieve you of a catastrophe during the next storm. Be proactive.
We Help Homeowners
Flader Plumbing and Heating is uniquely suited to assist you in determining the solution that best fits your home and family’s needs. We’ve been serving your neighbors and our community for over 100 years and 4 generations.
The Flader Difference
Only Flader Plumbing and Heating delivers:
- The most responsive service. We’re here for you 24/7.
- Personal attention from certified and licensed technicians.
- The most dependable equipment and parts.
- Money-saving maintenance agreements.
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
Reliability
Flader Plumbing and Heating recommends equipment, models, and brands proven to have the fewest problems and service calls. We specialize in:
Comprehensive Services
Whether you’re replacing your sump pump, water heater, furnace or central air conditioning, adding a humidifier, or cleaning and servicing your air quality system, we are knowledgeable and expert in delivering the services you need.
Flader technicians average 15 years of experience and are EPA certified. Our professional technicians arrive on-time, listen, answer your questions, recommend the right solution, and deliver as promised.
Expert service, quality parts, and satisfaction guaranteed. That’s the combination you deserve.
Don’t compromise. Call us at 847-491-6980.
