What Causes A Sump Pump Failure?: 3 Easy Ways to Prevent It

A flooded basement not only damages your home, but it also ruins the things you’ve worked hard for and the memories you’ve collected. Luckily, most basement flooding incidents can easily be prevented with a reliable sump pump system.

On the other hand, sump pumps, like any form of mechanical equipment, can fail, and when they do, they leave your home vulnerable to flooding all over again.

Here, we outline the causes of sump pump failure and three ways to protect your home from basement water damage.

What is a Sump Pump?

A sump pump is a device used to remove water from your basement and prevent flooding that has accumulated in a sump basin.

Usually, your basement’s interior drainage collects water in the sump basin (or sump pit) where the actual pump device can jet the water out of your interior and away from your home’s foundation.

7 Common Causes of Sump Pump Failure

What causes sump failure, you ask? Well, there are many reasons. Here’s just seven:

• Cause #1—Excess wear and tear of the primary pump: Over time, the primary pump can experience wear and tear, leading to motor burnout, especially if it is a light-duty pump.
• Cause #2—Switch failure: The sump pump switch can fail, preventing it from turning on and effectively removing water from the sump basin.
• Cause #3—Power outages: During a power outage, the sump pump won’t function unless there is a backup power source. This can lead to flooding during heavy rainfall.
• Cause #4—Low pumping capacity: If the primary pump has low capacity, it may not be able to keep up with water intake, leading to ineffective water removal.
• Cause #5—Depleted battery of a backup system: A backup system with a depleted battery will not be able to function during a power outage, leaving your basement vulnerable to flooding.
• Cause #6—Poorly designed system: Many homes have poorly designed sump pump systems, either due to using a light-duty pump or outdated systems. These systems are more prone to failure.
• Cause #7—Lack of sump pump alarm: Without a sump pump alarm, you won’t be alerted to rising water levels in the sump basin, potentially leading to significant damage if the pump fails.

By addressing these common causes of sump pump failure, you can ensure that your sump pump operates effectively and prevents basement flooding.

The 3 Best Ways to Prevent a Sump Pump Failure

Prevention #1: Get a Sump Pump Alarm

Your typical sump pump alarm is powered by a standard battery and designed to sound like a smoke detector. The alarm alerts you when the water has risen past the point at which the pump(s) should have turned on. Some alarms have ground-level monitors that detect small leaks and alert you before flooding occurs. Without an alarm, you could be talking about hours of damage to your basement or crawl space before you know there is a problem.

Prevention #2: Get a Battery Backup for Your Sump Pump

Installing a sump pump with a battery backup system will provide a safety net during a storm, sudden power outage, or if the primary pump just stops operating. It can also help a functioning primary pump that isn’t keeping up with water intake, even without a power outage.

To match a primary pump with a battery-operated backup system, you almost always need the backup system to be powered by a low-amperage-drawing AC pump (typically a one-pump system). That is connected to an inverter, which links to a DC battery source. This type of system can continuously discharge during a power outage as long as the battery remains charged.

So, if the AC backup pump is rated at 2100 gallons per hour and the battery can last 4 hours, a homeowner can expect their system to discharge up to 8400 gallons before needing to be recharged.

Prevention #3: Call Aquaguard Today for a Free Basement Inspection!

If you’re looking for sump pump experts in the Atlanta, Athens, and Marietta areas, look no further than AquaGuard Foundation Solutions, the premier foundation repair and waterproofing professionals! Contact us today for a free estimate!

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