
There’s never a convenient time for sump pump failure. Sump pumps spend most of the time on standby, only actuating when they’re really needed as ground water rises up in the sump basin or indoor or outdoor flooding threatens the basement. If you live in your house long enough, a sump pump failure may occur. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development states that the average service life of a residential sump pump is 10 years.
Here are some common causes of sump pump failure and what to do if it happens:
- Power outage. A severe storm threatens to flood your basement and—just when you need it most—the storm also knocks out grid power to the sump pump that protects your basement from flooding.
- Float switch or pressure switch failure. The presence of water in the basin is detected by the float switch or pressure switch that activates the pump. A defective switch is another common cause of sump pump failure.
- Clogged pump strainer. The intake strainer on the bottom of the pump may become clogged with debris that prevents water from entering the pump.
- Obstructed discharge pipe. Blockage in the pump discharge pipe prevents water from flowing to the outdoors. Instead, obstructed water flows backwards into the sump basin, causing the pump to reactivate continuously, eventually leading to sump pump failure.
What To Do Next
- A wet or flooded basement due to sump pump failure is very dangerous if electricity is still present in the space. Make sure electrical power is shut off at the main circuit breaker before entering the basement.
- If you have a wet/dry vacuum to remove shallow standing water—and/or mops—dry the basement as much as possible. If the basement has hinged ventilation windows, open them up and run fans to circulate air.
- If basement flooding is more than minor, you’ll need professional water damage recovery services to remove the water safely and prevent subsequent mold contamination.
- If a power outage was the cause of sump pump failure, consider installing a new pump with a battery backup option.