Sump Pumps

How Does a Sump Pump Work?

A sump pump’s job is to help keep the area under your home or building dry and to prevent flooding. A sump pump is a small pump that’s usually installed in a specially constructed sump pit in a basement or crawl space. The pump then collects water that flows through it from drains – like downspouts – or the soil around your Indianapolis area home. Then it pumps the water away from the home to keep your basement dry and flood-free.

What Are the Different Types of Sump Pumps?

Submersible Sump Pumps

A submersible sump pump is used for industrial and home applications. The device is completely submerged in the water basin. It’s waterproof to prevent water damage to the motor or electronic components of the device. The submersible sump pump is quick to pump up standing water and handles debris easily.

Battery Backup Sump Pump System

Battery backup sump pumps will work with your primary pump or in place of your primary pump if there is a power loss.

What to Know When Purchasing a Sump Pump

Before purchasing a sump pump, consider the following:

• How many gallons of water can it pump per hour?
• What is the pump’s head lift? This is the height a pump can lift water up.
• Does it have a backup system?
• Does it test the pump regularly?
• Does it have AC and DC power of just AC? We recommend AC/DC.
• Does it switch automatically?
• Do you need to monitor and add water periodically, or is it sealed?

Common Sump Pump Problems

Overwhelmed Sump Pump

Sometimes a single sump pump just isn’t enough to protect a home from basement flooding. The pump might not be powerful enough to handle the capacity of water pouring in, especially during heavy storms. If the quality of your sump pump is poor, for example, a plastic model is more likely to burn out or fail to keep up.

Frozen or Clogged Discharge Lines

Sump pumps typically expel any water collected from discharge lines. If discharge lines become frozen or clogged, the system will fail. Discharge lines need to be clear and covered so they can transport water out of the basement and away from your house.

Power Lost to the Sump Pump

If your Indianapolis sump pump loses power when you’re not at home, your basement is vulnerable. Storms that cause your basement to flood can lead to a power outage. If the circuit breaker trips or the pump is accidentally unplugged, your sump pump will not work. If you have a battery backup system, you have no worries. Today’s sump pumps will even send you an alert to the problem.

Sump Pump Running Non-Stop

When a sump pump runs continuously and it’s not due to the weather conditions, it’s a sign of a problem that needs to be addressed immediately. The most common causes of a sump pump continuously running include:

• Stuck sump pump switches
• Check valve is missing or broken
• Continually flooding sump pit
• The discharge line is clogged

What’s Included in an Annual Sump Pump Maintenance?

Annual service and maintenance should be performed to ensure your sump pump is working efficiently. Testing and cleaning your sump pump system is an important part of our maintenance service. Sump pumps have many moving parts that can wear down or need to be replaced. The intake valve and impeller will be cleaned and checked to make sure they are functioning. The sump pump liner will also be cleaned and inspected to make sure there is no build-up or clogging in the future. The batteries in your sump pump should be tested and replaced once a year. The discharge line will also be checked to ensure that water is freely moving through the line.