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Sump pumps are important additions to every home. Sump pumps will basically turn on automatically whenever they sense water on the ground. Their primary job is to pump out water quickly and efficiently, so that your basement doesn’t flood. Water damage can be quite expensive, and water damage to the basement may affect the foundation of your home. In worst case scenarios, you may have to rebuild the foundation, and this can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Sump pumps usually do not rely on any type of electric wiring. Instead, they rely on pressure sensors and float activators to turn on automatically. The pressure sensor will sense water pressure and the float activator will basically activate once the water level rises. To ensure that your sump pump is operating efficiently and properly, you should always call a licensed technician.

Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air serves Cleveland, TN and many other cities. We can offer you the sump pump services that you’re looking for at affordable prices. With that said, this article will explore 5 of the most common sump pump problems that you might encounter.

#1. The Sump Pump Is Overworked

One of the biggest problems that sump pumps run into is that they are overworked. This happens when the water is entering the house too fast for the sump pump to pump water out. In general, you can expect this to happen when there’s a flash flood or if you have a major pipe burst in the basement.

In these situations, our licensed technicians will take a look at the reason why your sump pump is overworked. Is it because the material is degrading? Can we patch up some of the parts or replace them? Or, is it because the sump pump is not large enough to handle the space that it needs to work on. In general, this is an easy fix.

#2. It’s Clogged

Sump pumps are also prone to clogging. This could be because dirt, debris and other particles have blocked the sump pump pit. Or, it could be because some parts of the sump pump have become dirty from usage. Sometimes, the switch turning on the pump can also jam. When this happens, the sump pump is also likely to clog. If you notice that your sump pump is clogged, you should call for sump pump services right away. Our plumbers will see whether the issue can be resolved with a simple repair or whether you’re going to need to replace the sump pump entirely.

#3. The Sump Pump Is Running 24/7

Although you want the sump pump to work, you don’t want the sump pump to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is a sign that there’s something wrong and that you need sump pump services immediately. It’s especially concerning if the sump pump is running even when there isn’t any water around. Some of the reasons why the sump pump may be running constantly include:

• It being the wrong size. In these cases, the sump pump is too small and fills up with water too quickly.

• A broken or missing part. It’s usually something wrong with the check valve. The check valve is supposed to stop water from running back into the sump pump, but if it’s faulty, it won’t be able to do that.

• The float switch is tangled or clogged.

Our licensed plumbers will do a quick inspection and let you know the type of sump pump services that are recommended to solve the problem.

#4. It Loses Power

The sump pump may also lose power if there’s a power failure somewhere. It could also be an internal mechanism that has run into an issue. The best thing that you can do in these situations is to a battery-powered backup for some peace of mind. This way, you’ll know that your sump pump will always be able to do its job regardless of the situation. If the sump pump constantly loses power, you should also call our licensed plumbers and have them inspect the situation. You definitely don’t want your sump pump to be non-operational at a critical time.

#5. The Discharge Lines Are Clogged

Another sign that you need to call for sump pump services immediately is if the discharge lines responsible for pushing water out are clogged or frozen. If this happens, the entire sump pump system will stop working. Most sump pump services that deal with this problem will involve cleaning out the system or unfreezing it if it has frozen during the winter. Some professionals may even go one step further and recommend that you insulate the sump pump if it freezes constantly during the winter. Temporal fluctuations can cause the frozen water inside to constantly expand and contract. This can cause some serious damage to your sump pump in the long run.

We Offer Sump Pump Services

Are you looking for sump pump services? Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air has been around since 1989 and has offered a wide variety of plumbing, heating and air conditioning services to multiple areas in the Chattanooga metropolitan area. We offer services in Cleveland, TN, and are known for offering affordable upfront pricing. You’ll also know what the total cost will be, and you won’t have to worry about any hidden fees.

If your sump pump is acting up, you’ll definitely want to inquire about sump pump services sooner rather than later. The longer that you wait, the worse the problem may become. A simple and small problem can eventually become a monster nightmare to deal with.

To learn more about the sump pump services that you need and to schedule an appointment with us, give us a call at 423-250-3502. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also contact us at Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air by filling our contact form online. One of our licensed technicians will get back to you as soon as possible!