Sump Pump Failure: What Businesses Should Know

Key Points:

• A sump pump is a mechanical fixture that ejects groundwater away from your property, and if it fails, it can very quickly lead to flooding.

• There are a number of different reasons why your sump pump may fail, which is why it is always important to contact an emergency plumber as soon as you notice something is wrong.

• Regular maintenance is essential for a consistent and reliable sump pump.

Why do sump pumps fail?

Sump pumps are mechanical appliances used to collect water from around your foundations and redirect it out of your property.

Sump pumps can fail for a number of different reasons, including:

• Power failure – The most common cause of sump pump failure is an electrical power outage. The best way to avoid sump pump power failure is to have a back-up battery for your sump pump.

• Valve failure – If the valve fails, the water being pumped out of the sump pit will flow back into the pit, decreasing the amount of water removed per cycle while also increasing the frequency of the cycles, which can cause the pump to fail prematurely.

• Stuck switch – Another common cause of sump pump failure is the switch becoming stuck in the on or off position, causing the pump to run continuously or not at all.

• Motor burnout – Motor failure happens when the voltage from the electricity supply increases until the pump is overheated and shuts off. This can happen when a sump pump is being overworked due to an undersized pump or poor quality parts.

• Casing failure – The casing is the protective shell that houses the sump pump motor. Breaks and cracks, failed motor bearing and debris in the impeller can all cause the casing to overheat and fail.

• Frozen pipes – Cold winter weather can cause havoc with your sump pump, causing freezing, clogging or mechanical overload.
  
• Old age – Sump pumps have an average life span of 10-12 years. If they are older than this then they may begin to show signs of failure, or completely fail.
  

It is vital that water is removed and drained away from your property as soon as possible. A great way to start clearing this water is by using a hand pump, which can be lowered into the powerless sump pump and then attached to a garden hose. 

The groundwater will hopefully lead away from your property and into a drain, or at least 10 metres away from your property to prevent lateral pressure leading to more flooding. 

Who can help with sump pump failure?

The best help you can get for a failed sump pump is from a professional and experienced commercial plumber. At Lacey Plumbing & Heating, our team has over 18 years of experience helping to fix, install and maintain sump pumps around the Manchester area. 

We know how frustrating and worrying it can be to have a failed or broken sump pump, which is why our emergency plumbers always aim to be with you as soon as possible. 

How to prevent sump pump failure

There are a few different, easy methods you can use to prevent sump pump failure. We’ve created an easy to follow checklist below for you to refer to whilst you check your sump pump:

• Check for worn parts – Checking for worn parts is one of the easiest ways to prevent sump pump failure, and the sooner you find them the better, as any failed parts could be catastrophic.

• Test the pump regularly – You should be testing the pump at least once a year yourself by pouring a bucket of water slowly into the pump. If the pump doesn’t turn on once the water level reaches a predetermined level or if it does not properly discharge the water, then the pump may be broken or clogged. 

• Book a sump pump service – Just like you need to have your boiler serviced, it is essential to have your sump pump serviced too. Even though you may be willing to take some preventative measures yourself, there may be faults that will need to be tackled by an expert.

• Replace the sump pump system – If you’re not sure your sump pump is in good working order, you should consult one of our sump pump specialists.

• Have a backup on hand – If your sump pump is getting old, there is no way of predicting when it will actually fail on you. However, you can avoid disaster by having a backup sump pump ready for when your current one begins to deteriorate. 

Does a sump pump need to be serviced?

Yes, your sump pump should be fully inspected and serviced at least once a year, however, depending on how much use it gets, you may want to consider getting it serviced every 6 months. 

Our team of highly skilled plumbers carry out careful checks, cleaning and testing during each service and we always carefully follow the manufacturer guides. 

If you have a sump pump installed and you think it needs to be serviced, get in touch with our team today to see how we can help.