What Causes a Sump Pump to Fail?

Most homeowners recognize the importance of having a sump pump installed in their homes to prevent flooding. Sump pumps are an essential component of a flood-prevention plan for your residence. Yet, what happens when your primary sump pump fails? 

Often, flooding events result from hazardous weather conditions, which typically include high winds and other dangers. When dealing with severe weather, chances are the electricity to your home will go out due to winds, lightning, and flooding. It is important to you and your loved one’s health and safety that a backup sump pump is installed when primary unit failure or power loss occurs. Here we will discuss some of the reasons it is vital to incorporate a backup sump pump into your flood prevention plan:

Causes of Primary Sump Pump Failures

There are several reasons your sump pump may fail. First and foremost, the loss of electricity will prevent a sump pump from working. As previously mentioned, the primary cause for power loss is severe weather which often accompanies a flooding event. 

Another reason for a sump pump not working is the failure of the level control. This may occur due to obstruction or an issue with the pump itself. Most sump pumps utilize a switch mechanism that triggers pump operation when the water reaches a certain level. If this switch stops working, the pump will not turn on.

When flooding occurs, debris from the home or an outside source can also stop the pump from operating. Besides power loss, this is another primary cause of a non-functioning sump pump.

Finally, other mechanical issues may happen that result in a sump pump not working. Many times pumps won’t be calibrated correctly, leading to overheating due to running when the water level is too low — overheating leads to premature failure.

Types of Backup Sump Pumps

Several different sump pump designs can be utilized for a backup sump pump system. Each type of backup pump can be used in the event your primary unit fails. The different pump configurations consist of:

Battery-powered: As the name suggests, this type of sump pump runs off battery power if electricity is cut from the residence. Running on either a 12v or 24v battery, these pumps can be connected to existing discharge pipes or installed with an independent discharge piping system.

Water-powered: These sump pumps utilize the pressure created by water moving through a venturi system to push water out of an area. They only rely on water power and do not use an external power source. A water-powered unit is ideal for homes that are connected to a municipal water supply.

Battery and power inverter: This is similar to a battery-powered pump, a battery and power inverter utilizing electricity and a battery to maintain power. It can assist the primary sump pump when it is unable to keep up with water intrusion and can take over entirely in the case of a power outage. 

Additional Features

Most newer backup sump pumps feature several additional features to help homeowners know exactly what is happening during operation. Alarms have become increasingly popular and can notify residents when power is lost and the backup unit has turned on. They can also warn of low battery levels, pump failure, and other critical issues. 

Auto-dialers are another unique feature that can be programmed to notify an owner via phone when something has occurred.

Protect Your Home With Northern Services and a Backup Sump Pump

Northern Services is a leading provider of plumbing and HVAC services. Our team of expert and professional plumbers can help you choose the right backup sump pump for your home. For more information about Northern Services and how we can help you avoid damage caused by flooding, contact us today!