Common Causes of Sump Pump Failure

2/26/2018 (Permalink)

A sump pump may only become obvious at the worst possible time—when flooding strikes. Because sump pumps sit idle most of the time, silently safeguarding your basement against water inundation, failure in the pump system doesn’t necessarily become evident until it’s actually needed to remove water. At that point, it’s too late. You’ll need the services of a professional water damage restoration specialist to minimize damage and perform the clean-up.  

Be forewarned about these possible causes of sump pump failure, before it happens:

• No electricity – The same extreme weather conditions that cause flooding frequently cause power outages. Also, a circuit breaker that tripped without notice might deprive the pump of electricity. A sump pump with battery backup option offers extra protection.
• Pump inlet clogged – Debris in the basin sucked up against the pump inlet screen may obstruct water from entering the pump.
• Stuck float switch – The float switch energizes the pump as the sump basin fills with water. A stuck switch prevents pump actuation and basement flooding occurs. A frequent cause of a binding float switch is a pump that has gradually shifted position in the basin due to vibration.
• Undersized pump – The pump’s rated output and the discharge pipe diameter must be appropriately sized to remove the worst-case volume of water. If either is undersized, the pump won’t be able to remove water fast enough to prevent property damage.
• Obstructed discharge pipe – The pump discharge pipe may be blocked or buried by debris outdoors. If the line isn’t properly routed downslope on the property, residual water accumulating in the pipe may freeze and block discharge.

For more details on the causes of sump pump failure, contact the water damage experts at SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County. 502.241.6861

SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County also proudly serves Trimble, Henry and Spencer Counties.