The Importance of Sump Pumps
Why Sump Pump Repairs Can’t Wait
Your city has had a considerable amount of rain recently, but have you thought about the working condition of your sump pump? Do you even have one installed on your property? If you do not have the answers to these questions, it’s a smart idea to find them quickly so you can get sump pumps repair by an Ontario plumber. Whether or not you’re currently experiencing wet weather, assessing the condition of your sump pump is an important part of home maintenance that can help prevent flooding and structural damage.
What Is A Sump Pump?
A sump pump is a device that’s used to remove excess water from around the base of your home. With heavy rain and melting snow, water will make its way into your sump pit where it will then be pumped away from the building to prevent water damage. Sump pumps detect rising water levels, and when water reaches a certain mark, the pump is triggered to quickly suction it out of the pit or sump basin.
Like most mechanical systems, sump pumps can run into trouble. As you can imagine, this can lead to major issues which is why it is so important to inspect the condition of your pump and call a professional for sump pump repair as soon as it’s needed.
The Benefits of Sump Pumps | Repair Is Key
When you have a fully functional sump pump, the benefits it brings are bountiful. However, with time, those benefits start to lessen. The solution? Repair or sump pump replacement. Repairs will get your sump pump back up and running efficiently so that you can experience all of the same advantages you had when you first installed it.
Reduces Risk of Flooding
Flooding is one of the biggest risks to homeowners. Why? Because it causes water damage which not only ruins your belongings and causes structural damage to your home, but also puts your house at risk for mold growth. Mold grows within 24 hours of moisture exposure, and when coupling a wet basement with Ontario’s hot, humid summers, your dwelling is at serious risk of needing mold remediation—a much larger service you don’t want to have to deal with
A house without a sump pump is at serious risk of basement flooding, but also sewage backups. A properly working pump can help prevent this plumbing disaster by directing excess water away from the home preventing it from causing a backup.
Decreases Humidity in Your Home
When excess water is lying around the base of your home, it can enter your home and increase humidity levels. While this may be a good thing for your skin, it’s certainly not for your comfort—especially in the summer months when air conditioners are used to help decrease temperature and humidity indoors. With more humidity, your air conditioner may need to work harder to keep your home cooler, raising your energy consumption and bills. In addition, this excess humidity can lead to the growth of mold.
Lessens Chance of Electrical Fire
Having a properly working sump pump is considered a preventative safety measure you can take in your home. When floods happen unexpectedly in your basement, you won’t have time to unplug your electronics, leading to short circuiting and possibly fires.
What Causes Sump Pump Failure?
When you’ve inspected your sump pump and found it to be broken or malfunctioning, you’re probably left wondering what causes it to fail in the first place. Knowing why sump pumps fail is key to preventing issues in the future.
- The sump pump is the wrong size. If you have chosen a pump that is either too large or too small for your home, it could lead to the unit putting in more work than is needed. Every time the pump turns on, it may be generating more power necessary to complete the job or work harder than it should to pump away excess water. A call to your local expert plumbers can help you find the right sump pump for the size of your home or building.
- The discharge pipe is clogged. A clogged sump pump happens when dirt and debris get caught and build up in the pipe, but they can also be caused by the ice formed in the winter. If your pump can’t move the water through the pipe, it will simply send it back to where it came from, resulting in flooding and leaks.
- The pump is dirty. Because of where sump pumps are located (in basements or crawl spaces), it’s common for them to get dirty. But the accumulation of dirt can prevent certain parts from operating properly. Thankfully, this one cause of sump pump failure is easy to solve with a quick cleaning by a professional plumber.
- Your electric pump has no power. If you do not have a battery back-up sump pump and your home is experiencing a power failure your sump pump will shut down. This is troubling in power outages during storms with heavy rainfall as there will be nothing you can do to resolve the issue until power is restored to your home. Ask a Hy-Pro representative about our battery backup pumps.
- The float switch can’t move. The float is the feature on a sump pump that tells the pump how much water is in your basin. It signals the pump to start working to move water out of the pit and away from your home. When the float is stuck, it cannot do this. Floats can get stuck due to dirt or because the pump has shifted positions over time.
- The pump is old. If you don’t know how old the sump pump is in your home, it’s likely time to replace it. On average, you’ll get 10 years of use from a sump pump.
How To Fix Faulty Sump Pumps | Repair & Replacement
Calling a professional for sump pump repair is one of the smartest decisions Ontarians can make. Why? Because it will help them avoid basement flooding, damage to their home’s foundation, and even issues with their driveways.
How Do I Know My Sump Pump Needs Help?
Knowing when your sump pump needs repair or replacement is important, but how exactly can you tell? Calling a professional can help, but there are ways Ontario homeowners can glean information about a broken sump pump too. Also, knowing when your current sump pump is having trouble can prevent breakdowns and issues from occurring, so be sure to look out for the following signs.
- Strange noises: If you’ve ever heard a pump, you know it turns on and off when needed. No pump should ever make clunking, whistling, or worrisome vibrating noises, but if yours does, you should call a professional plumber right away.
- Musty smells: Musty odors usually come from mold or mildew. These two fungi need moisture and heat to grow, and a small leak from your sump pump provides the perfect setup.
- The basin is full of water: If your pump isn’t running when there is a basin full of water, it isn’t removing it. Alternatively, if the pit is empty but the pump is constantly running, you also have a problem on your hands.
The Sump Pump Repair Process
There are so many different issues that occur with your unit and a few different types of sump pumps. Whether you have submersible sump pumps or pedestal sump pumps, repair isn’t always straightforward and often needs a professional eye. Calling a reliable plumber to help is an easy way to ensure any and all problems that your pump is facing are taken care of.
So how exactly does sump pump repair work? The process starts with diagnosis. We’ll need to assess the condition of your pump and see how it’s performing. Based on our inspection, we’ll get to the root of the issue and take the necessary steps to resolve it. If your sump pump is very old, we might recommend replacing it over repairing it. For us, no job is ever too small or too large. Whether you would simply like the condition of your unit inspected or are facing issues with one responsible for an entire apartment building, we can help.
Need Help With Your Sump Pumps? Repair Is Just One Call Away
The most common mistake homeowners make when it comes to their sump pumps is not calling a professional for sump pump maintenance or repairs. Trying to tackle a repair on their own is problematic for many Ontario residents and doesn’t usually end in success. That’s because sump pump issues can range greatly, and properly diagnosing every issue that occurs is tricky for the untrained eye.
That’s where we come in. Hy-Pro Plumbing & Drain Cleaning offers a reliable service for sump pumps. Repair and replacement are our specialties, as we’re properly trained and have all of the necessary skills, experience, and tools to perform the job correctly. Ontario can have peace of mind and rely on our fast service and the fact that we have a Master Plumber on the job at all times. Licensed and insured, we’re the plumbing company locals can trust for quality workmanship, expert knowledge, and courteous service.
Ready to give some attention to your sump pumps? Repair is just one call away. Dial 1(877)554-9776 today.
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