If you have a sump pump, congratulations! You’ve taken a major step toward preventing floods in your basement. However, all machines require maintenance of some sort, and there are common sump pump problems to watch out for.

A sump pump relies on your power source and other factors in your basement to remain in good shape. If they don’t, your pump will fail.

If you suspect something’s wrong with your sump pump, or you’d like to know what to watch out for, we’ve got 5 of the most common problems for you to address.

5 Most Common Sump Pump Problems

Power failure

A power failure is one of the most tricky and expensive sump pump problems. Simply put, the integrity of your basement and the rest of your home relies on your sump pump retaining power.

However, things happen. In case of a dangerous storm or natural disaster (or just city blackouts), you need to have the proper backup for your sump pump.

If you don’t, your basement could flood, which is a bad situation for all involved.

You can circumvent this by having an additional sump pump, or by using a battery-operated pump.

Overwhelmed

As much as we would love them to be, sometimes sump pumps just can’t handle the load we give them. Whether it’s a low-quality pump or you’re pumping more than it’s qualified to handle, sometimes your sump pump will get overwhelmed.

The easiest way to get around this is to make sure that your pump is good quality. If it’s cheap, it runs a higher risk of burning out than other well-made models.

No water

If your sump pump doesn’t have any water in the sump pit, there’s a good chance that it wasn’t installed correctly. It can also be a sign that it’s not actually linked to your drainage system, rendering the whole thing useless.

Make sure that your basement drainage system is draining the water correctly. If the tile is clogged or has fallen, you won’t get the results with your pump that you need.

If you don’t have a drainage system in place, the first thing you should do is work on getting that taken care of.

Clogged

Sometimes, sump pumps don’t have lids. This is fairly normal, but it also means that regular cleaning and maintenance should become routine.

If your sump is left unclean, that means it will become dirty. That can lead to clogs, which will slow down or stop the pump once and for all.

A clog can afflict several sections of your sump pump, including the pit, the mechanics, or the switch.

To make sure this doesn’t happen, make sure you get your pump inspected regularly. Buying one with a lid can also ensure that your pump stays clean.

Constantly running

A continuously-running sump pump is the most urgent problem on this list. If left to run indefinitely, the pump will burn out quickly, rendering it unusable.

Make sure that the switches aren’t stuck (especially a problem in cheap models) and that the liner is an appropriate size. Additionally, make sure the valves are in good shape as well.

Conclusion

Many of these problems are simple fixes.

Additionally, shelling out for a more expensive pump may benefit you in the long run. Don’t settle for something lidless and make sure your pump will be able to hold up.

If you have questions regarding flooding and plumbing, feel free to give us a shout out!