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A Sump pump is a pump that is installed at the lowest point of your home’s foundation and is completely immersed in water. By installing it, you can always ensure that in case of heavy rainfall, storm, or flooding emergency, your house will always be able to stay afloat, and the water, if accumulated in the house in any way, will always find a channel to drain itself away.
Because the sump pump is perforated, it allows the water to drain through tiny holes, which then leads the water toward the nearest reservoir where the stormwater is collected away from the house.
In addition, the sump pump is only used and triggered when the water in the house reaches a predetermined level, so if there is no such emergency, you will never find out if your sump pump requires repair.
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Many people do not consider these situations and end up paying hefty amounts when the water has well surpassed their heads, literally. Many others are unaware that sump pumps require a regular check-up and maintenance instead of doing everything in the nick of time.
The first step to repairing a sump pump is to figure out what kind of problems you are facing in the first place. This article will identify some common problems related to a sump pump and how to solve them.
How To Repair A Sump Pump? – Easy Repair Solutions
Following are some ways to repair a sump pump for common problems if you are doing it yourself;
Out of Power
It is the most common issue facing every sump pump in every household, the storm got out of hand, and usually, the power outage affects the function of the sump pump, which is to remove and pump out the water from the house to the drain but if there is no power, your house will be submerged, and this is a serious concern. In addition, the circuit could also get tripped, or the jolts by the air pressure can unplug your sump pump.
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Solution:
The easiest solution is to get a battery-powered sump pump which will help you a lot in a long way because you don’t need to worry about power failure during a storm constantly.
The battery-powered sump pump comes with a backup and a reminder system that will always let you know when your house needs pumping out the water.
Clogging Issues
A lot can happen during flooding or storm or a heavy rainfall situation, most of which is that the water that gets accumulated into or around your house area is filled with sedimentation, debris, and rubble, which often clogs up the sump pump and very ability to drain the water out of your house.
In this situation, you will notice the water collecting around your sump pit, but the flow of water being pumped out is extremely slow. In such a case, the switch that is supposed to be working by pumping the water out must be broken.
Solution:
First, you need an additional stump to help clear up the water. Get an extra hose with a valve and a screwed-on stump, and ensure you have the hose connected far away from your house yard so that the water does not come back into your house through drainage. Also, check if your main pipe is not causing clogging issues, especially below your landscape line.
Incorrect Pump Size
Another common problem is the incorrect size of the sump pump installed in your house; how can you determine that your sump pump size is wrong according to your home size? It is easy; if your pump keeps running even though there is no need for it, chances are you have the wrong dimensions of the sump pump.
Suppose the sump pump is too small, specifically considering the amount of water it has to pump out of your housing system. In that case, it will give up on its performance soon, and you will waste money and time preparing another sump pump system.
Solution: If you are well aware of the area you live in, which could be a forest setting with constant rainfalls and storms or one with a lot of moist soil, you will need expert help to find the perfect sump pump size.
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Problematic Installation
In many cases, people tend to install the sump pump themselves and often do not perform the task properly, so the sump pump fails to perform even before it is supposed to.
Maybe the surface that the sump pump was installed on was not clean, or the valve was not properly checked for the backflow and in many cases, the sump pump was not even stabilized correctly.
The check valve plays an essential role along with others, but the main job of the sump pump is to ensure that the pumped-up water is drained away from your house; if the check valve malfunctions, this means the water will get stuck inside your house and will keep increasing failing the pump.
Solution:
The solution for this issue is to have the sump pump reinstalled and checked by a professional who can guide you along the process and ensure that the sump pump is performing correctly after the installation.
FAQS
Is regular maintenance important for a sump pump?
Yes, you must maintain your sump pump even if you live in a fairly dry area with rare storms or rains. All you have to do is pour the water into the crock occasionally to ensure that it stays moist.
To learn more about potential water softener issues like constant draining and how to address them, check out our guide on Water Softener Constantly Draining.
Final Thoughts
Though it can sound like a hard job, repairing a sump pump is fairly easy if you know how to get things done. Sometimes you can fix problems yourself, while others might need professional help.