When Does a Sump Pump Require Maintenance?

4/28/2020 (Permalink)

Sump pump in an Arrow, OK home

Reasons a Pump Might Require Maintenance

Homeowners depend on sump pumps to eliminate water from the lowest level of residences in Broken Arrow, OK. If a sump pump fails to function for any reason, a basement or crawlspace may fill up with water and result in water damage. Here are several reasons a pump might require maintenance.

Clogged Components
Some of the most common pump maintenance tasks involve cleaning out critical components. Debris such as dirt, rocks or roots or even a frozen blockage can limit the functionality of the following components:

• Intake screen
  
• Discharge pipe
  
• Pit
  
• Vents
  
  

Check the condition of parts where buildup tends to form. The float should also rise and fall with water levels. Homeowners can run a vinegar solution through the pump and clear out these components, including any grates and the air relief hole in the discharge line.

Installation Issues
The quality of a sump pump installation often determines the efficacy of this flood prevention equipment. A pump should never be set up in gravel or dirt, as these substances will end up blocking essential components. The discharge line should also have a check valve to prevent back flow and an air relief hole to vent pressure.

Pump Burn-Out
Components on a pump that is overworked with insufficient power may burn out. Make sure to choose the right size of pump for a particular application. If you are not sure which pump is the right choice for a basement, plan to have experts install this flood prevention equipment. This expense is considerably less than water damage restoration.
A sump pump might require cleaning or service for any of these reasons. If none of these issues are present and a pump is still not working, it may be faulty or power might not be available. A backup power source elevated above the flood level can help to ensure a pump functions properly.