When Should I Replace My Sump Pump?
“Yay, I’m home. Nothing to do but put my feet up and relax for a while. But first, I think I’ll put in a load of laundry.”
That was you speaking. Then you walk downstairs to the basement with a laundry basket full of dirty clothes, only to find the floor covered with an inch or so of water.” And now, here you are again.”
“You have to be (bleep) kidding me! Where and how do I even start to deal with this mess?!”
Basement flooding can do more than ruin your day. It can cost you untold dollars to get the problem fixed when, in fact, the problem could have been prevented in the first place.
There are several ways to go about that. For purposes of this blog, let’s focus on one. And that is, deciding when a sump pump has likely run its course and should be replaced.
These are the most common symptoms:
On/Off Issues
A sump pump should not go through constant cycles of turning on and off. Conversely, if yours doesn’t run on and off when it should there might be a problem with the power source, or float switch.
Noisy Operation
Sump pumps make a certain amount of noise under the best of conditions, but when they grow louder, it’s a sign there’s something wrong with the motor. Listen for rattles, grinding, thuds, and other abnormal noises.
Old Age
The average lifespan of a sump pump is around 10 years, but there are several factors that can affect this, including how often it’s used, how far it has to carry the water in order to discharge it, and the quality of the pump.
Runs Non-Stop
If your sump pump runs without pausing, it probably can’t handle the load. And that does you very little good, if any.
At Best Choice Plumbers, we offer several solutions, including these:
- Annual inspection and maintenance, along with the rest of your plumbing
- Sump pump repair – replacement isn’t always necessary
- Sump pump replacement
- Supporting yours with a back-up sump pump that kicks in as soon as your main pump shuts down, no matter the reason
To help keep your basement water free, contact Best Choice Plumbers today.