A sump pump is a small investment with big gain for your home. It is a two-part appliance made up of a pit and a pump and is installed in your basement or crawl space.
This small but important inclusion to your home helps prevent your basement or crawl space from extreme weather such as flooding, foundational damage, fungus and more over time.
Sump pumps last an average of 5 to 15 years and are essential to have under your house to prevent any kind of water destruction. Look for these signs below to see if it’s time to replace your water pump.
There’s no water in your sump pit
It is okay for your sump pump pit to be dry, but not always. For example, if it’s the middle of the summer and your pit is dry, odds are it’s because it hasn’t rained and that’s completely normal.
However, if your sump pump pit is always dry, chances are high that you don’t have the leakage that you thought you had or the water is gathering in a different location than you thought it was, which is not good.
What to Do: Get your drainage system inspected and fixed by a professional plumber.
Your sump pump and switches are clogged
If your sump pump doesn’t have a lid, it will get clogged and dirty over time and either slow down or stop working entirely. Because sump pumps are located underneath your house, dirt and debris can easily find its way to your pump and switches, clogging and jamming your system.
What to Do: Get your sump pump inspected and see if it’s time to repair or replace. Make sure that your next sump pump comes with an airtight lid to avoid collecting dirt and debris.
There are unusual noises coming from your sump pump
Low humming noises coming from your sump pump are completely normal, however, if those noises become louder than usual or your pit is no longer pumping water, it’s time to investigate.
What to Do: Call your technician and have them come check your sump pump’s condition to find out what could be wrong.
Your sump pump is frequently running
Sump pumps can continuously run for a number of reasons – your switches could be stuck, the water pump and/or liner could be too small or big, the check valve is missing or broken or your sump pit could be continuously flooding.
If your sump pump is frequently running, regardless of weather conditions, this is a sign that should be addressed immediately before your pump burns itself out.
What to Do: Have a technician come out to look at it immediately.
The pump completely loses power
Any time that your sump pump loses power, your basement or crawl space becomes vulnerable. Any storm that can flood your basement or crawl space can also knock down power lines nearby. Additionally, your circuit breaker can trip or your sump pump can be accidentally unplugged.
What to Do: Always be prepared. We recommend having a backup pump just in case.
Where to find a sump pump expert in Marin County
If your sump pump is not running properly or needs to be replaced, give Gotelli Plumbing a call today. Gotelli Plumbing services the Marin and Sonoma County areas and has many years of experience. You can count on us to get the job done right and put your worries to rest.
