With a little attention to maintenance and detail, you can avoid sump pump failure and avoid the major problems associated with basement flooding.
It's almost impossible to predict when you'll need the sump pump, whether due to a plumbing failure or heavy rain, so keep it ready to go at all times.
- Choose the right size. You or your plumber need to select the size based on the capacity of the pump in gallons per minute, which factors in the height of the water and how long it needs to run to remove it. If you select a pump that's too big, it'll run in short cycles more frequently, increasing wear. One that's too small will have to work too hard to remove the water, burning itself out faster. If it can't remove adequate water, mold may start to grow.
- Bad installation. Any number of installation mistakes can cause premature sump pump failure. Unless you have ample experience with sump pumps, hiring a professional may be the better option.
- Age. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates the lifetime of a sump pump is 10 years. If it's improperly sized, expect its life to be shorter. You can extend its life by maintaining it annually, or purchase a high quality pump that should last longer.
- Power problems. Power outages and surges can cause premature failure. Since you shouldn't use an extension cord with a sump pump, the best solution is a surge protector installed at the service panel for your home or putting it on its own surge protector that plugs directly into the outlet. Power outages are not uncommon with severe weather, and selecting a pump that has a battery-back up will help you avoid problems with flooding.
For more on avoiding sump pump failure and the damage it causes, contact Rytech today.
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