Your sump pump is sort of the unsung hero of your plumbing system.
It doesn’t demand much of your attention. You don’t use it on a daily basis like you might your toilet, shower, or kitchen sink.
However, when you do need it, you’ll be incredibly grateful it’s there.
If your home has a sump pump, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s working properly. This little device can save you thousands of dollars in potential damage to your home during a flood or other emergency.
It’s common for residential plumbing systems to have sump pumps installed, but it’s likely you have one in your commercial plumbing system as well if you own a commercial building.
If you think your sump pump has some issues, call us now to repair it before you have to call our 24 hour emergency plumbing service.
And of course, if you are facing a plumbing emergency, we’ll be there for you.
What Is A Sump Pump?
If you’re a homeowner, you know that a flooded basement is one of the worst things you can deal with. And while flooded basements can result from needing leaky pipe repair or burst pipe repair from having frozen pipes, or even a main sewer line backup, flooded basements can come from other sources too.
According to the Philadelphia Water Department, Pennsylvania is the state most prone to flooding. That might come as a surprise, but the statistics don’t lie.
How can you protect yourself from your home flooding?
That’s where your trusty sump pump comes in.
Sump pumps are designed to pump water out of your basement. You’ll find it in a pit in the basement of your home – the pit itself is called a sump. Your sump is lower than your basement floor. This way, if your basement begins to flood, your sump will fill up first. When the water gets too high inside of your sump, your sump pump will kick in and start pumping water out of your basement away from your house.
When it’s working properly, your sump pump can save you from dealing with stressful and costly damage from a flooded basement. But because it’s not a device you use every day, it’s easy to forget about it, and only realize it’s not working when it’s too late.
How To Tell If You Need Sump Pump Repair Plumbing In Philadelphia Services
Those who designed sump pumps realized that it’s not the most attention grabbing plumbing fixture in your house. As a result, it’s usually fairly obvious when your sump pump isn’t working.
Some of the common signs you need a sump pump repair plumber, or a new sump pump installation, include:
- Vibrating sump pump
- Noisy sump pump
- Constantly running sump pump
- Rusty sump pump
- No water in sump pump pit
- Sump pump circuit breaker trips
- Sump pump won’t turn on
As well, if your sump pump is more than a few years old, you may need to replace it.
Sump Pump Repair And New Sump Pump Installation Plumbing Contractors
If you have an issue with your sump pump, our plumbers will be happy to help. We’ll be there for you to diagnose the problem with your sump pump, and let you know what will be involved in repairing or replacing it.
Here at Mount Airy Plumbing, our licensed local plumbing contractors are experienced in all manner of sump pump repairs and new sump pump installations.
Call us today, and we’ll be there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sump Pump Plumbing
Got questions about sump pumps? No problem. We hear them all the time. Below you’ll find some of them are frequently asked questions about sump pumps we hear.
If you have other questions, you can take a look at our general FAQ page as well, or feel free to just give us a call.
It’s highly recommended. As we mentioned above, Pennsylvania is prone to flooding. But even if a flood doesn’t damage your home, it can still cause mold to grow in your basement, which can put you at greater risk for respiratory diseases.
Your home insurance may give you a break on your monthly bills if you have a sump pump installed as well.
Sump pumps can fail for a number of different issues. In general, as they get older, you will have to repair or replace them after a few years. They can also fail as a result of poor installation.
Yes, the most common types are pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps. Pedestal sump pumps are older, less efficient, and tend to be noisier, which is why people generally opt for a submersible sump pump.
Anywhere between 18 and 25 gallons is a good bet. In most cases, the larger your basin, the better, since your pump will run less frequently as a result.
Most sump pumps are electrically powered, which means if your power is out they will not work. However, you can get sump pump battery backup units to make sure it keeps working regardless.
You can test your sump pump by filling a bucket with water and dumping it into your sump pit. If it’s working properly, your sump pump will turn on and start draining the water.
Your sump pump will pump water into a discharge line called an effluent. This drains to a designated drainage area, which should be far from both yours and your neighbours’ foundations.