If you have a basement in Central Indiana, then you’re probably familiar with sump pumps. You’re at least familiar with the fact that you need something to help with the inevitable flooding that hits Indiana throughout the year. Your sump pump works to keep water out of the basement or crawl space, saving potentially thousands of dollars in damage. The problem is that these things can fail for a variety of reasons.

The American Society of Home Inspectors did a study that showed more than 60% of American homes suffer from underground wetness or water damage.

While it’s not to say that there is a foolproof method for preventing 100% of failures, there are certainly some tips you can follow to better your chances of keeping your sump pump working properly and doing it’s job by preventing serious damage to your home and belongings!

  1. Power Failure.  Your primary sump pump is no different than any other electric appliance in your house — without power, it is completely worthless.  Avoid this situation by investing in a high quality battery back-up sump pump.
  2. Stuck Switch.  The leading mechanical cause of sump pump problems is a switch problem. This occurs when the pump shifts from its position inside the basin, rendering the float ineffective. Float is responsible for the smooth operation of the on/off switch. Your sump pump relies on both the switch and the float arm mechanisms to operate effectively.  If you don’t know what to look for in this situation, contact a professional Central Indiana plumber.
  3. Size Matters!   Yes, it’s true. If you have an incorrectly sized pump, or if the pump is not installed properly, there will most likely be a problem. A small sump pump is often just as effective as a big one. When a sump pump is too big, the pump is forced to work harder, resulting in a shorter product lifespan. But if it’s too small, it may not be able to adequately pump out the water – again resulting in a shorter lifespan.
  4. Frozen Sump Discharge Pipe.  This is a very common occurrence with our brutal Central Indiana winters.  If the pipe isn’t pitched properly, water will collect and eventually freeze.  This causes a blockage and as a result the water falls right back into your sump pit.  When the pit continues to fill up, the water has no place to go but all over your basement floor.
  5. Old Age.  None of us enjoy the affects of aging and neither do our sump pumps. There is no definitive “lifetime” of a sump pump.  The US Department of Housing and Development estimates the average life expectancy at 10 years.  This is only a rule of thumb, and if your sump pump works as hard as those in the Central Indiana often do, then 5-7 years might be a more reasonable estimation for replacement.

Give your Central Indiana Sump Pump experts a call if you experience any problems with your Sump Pump in the upcoming rainy days! Don’t wait until it is too late and you’re having to call someone to handle water damage.