I was recently asked by a new widow to come educate her about her sump pump. It was great to be able to show her a few things about her sump; and also good to know that she was being proactive, in part because she had dealt with flooding issues in her basement at a previous home and her husband had taken care of things in the past. Here are a few common problems with sump pumps.

• Sometimes they are inoperative. This can be due to a defective float switch system, a lack of electrical power, a seized pump or a burned out motor.
• There can be excessive noise or vibration with sump pumps which may be caused by a worn pump or motor with worn or damaged bearings. This often suggests that a pump is near the end of its life.
• Short cycling or running continuously also happens, and this may shorten the life of the pump. Pumps may short cycle because of the sump being too small, the float switches are set incorrectly, or the sump is re-filling quickly after the pump empties it.
• Pumps may also run continuously if there is a control problem, a float switch is defective, or if a float is stuck and not dropping when the water level drops. In this situation, the pump may burn out or shut off on thermal overload.
• Other common problems include debris in the sump, a damaged sump pit, or discharge pipe problems.

It’s always helpful to occasionally check your sump to be sure things are working correctly. We’re always available for a service call if you’re questioning your sump is working correctly. Don’t hesitate to “Check with Chuck”.

**Information taken from the March 2019 ASHI Reporter.