Expert Contributor Written by Ryan Corbett, Master Plumber Dream Team Home Services
Sump Pump Replacement
W
hen you need to replace your sump pump, you should check the valve to make sure the discharge pipe to the outside is clear. A blockage can cause the float on the pump to not work or work improperly. Debris can also easily clog the impeller, the part of a pump or compressor that rotates at a high speed and acts as a propeller to increase a fluid's pressure and flow rate. Impellers can be made from various metals such as steel, iron or bronze, as well as plastics. Make sure the discharge piping from the pump has a check valve, to prevent water from coming right back in once it’s pumped out. A new mulch bed or landscaping is often the cause of why the discharge pipe no longer drains freely. This can become a complicated situation if the pump kicks on. Check the power outlet regularly because many basement outlets have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) that can easily trip, causing no power to the pump. If you have a home that heavily relies on the sump pump during storms, then a backup pump system is strongly recommended. Backup sump pumps are usually battery operated, using a
12-volt marine battery that comes with a wall charger to keep the battery charged and ready to go. This allows them to kick into action even when a power outage has rendered your sump pump useless. Homeowners can expect to get anywhere from 5 – 8 hours of run time on these batteries. Not only do backup pumps protect your home from damage in the event of pump failure, but they can also assist in times of severe flooding, when your primary pump may become overwhelmed by the water volume during serious storms. Water-powered backup systems are gaining in popularity, and are powered by the local municipal water supply. Such water-powered backup systems require no electricity to operate, and will function for a much longer time than the battery backup systems. A water-powered backup system will not work, however, if you have a well water system. Sump pumps need to be replaced every 7–10 years. Repairing one older than that would cost around the same price as a replacement, so it makes more sense to get a new one. This all depends, of course, on how frequently the pump is running, which varies from house to house. M
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