Photo By Ozgur Coskun at Shutterstock

If you have a home with a basement and it’s prone to flooding, you may well have a sump pump and from time to time require sump pump services.

Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air, provides plumbing repairs, maintenance and installations in the Chattanooga, TN area.

A sump pump works to collect excess water and redirects it away from the house saving it from minor or severe flooding. It should last around ten years but there may be times you need to call for plumbing services to understand if it needs replacing, particularly when Spring showers start to hit the US, including Chattanooga, TN and your sump pump is working overtime.

Warning Signs You Should Call for Sump Pump Services

Here are some signs that your sump pump may need repairing, replacing or needs sump pump services from your local Chattanooga, TN plumber.

When the power cuts out

A big storm can knock out your electricity, rendering your sump pump useless.

Before you call for plumbing service, try getting a backup generator or you can also get a sump pump with a built-in battery backup – also known as an auxiliary pump – which will start running a few moments after the lights go out.

When your sump pump keeps cycling on and off intermittently

When this happens, it could be a sign that you need sump pump services to fit a larger basin to accommodate the amount of water that collects in it. It will need a bigger hole in your basement floor but getting this fitted is more cost effective than replacing your sump before its ten-year shelf life is up.

Appropriate pump size is also determined by the type of drain pipes you have with tall, upright, long or more bendy pipes needing more horsepower behind them. Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air’s sump pump services will advise on the appropriate pump for your house.

If your sump pump is running non-stop

When the pump starts running continuously, it means it was not running enough power for the volume of water it collected. The size should correlate to the amount of water it collects each hour.

Install a larger model to avoid it breaking down in the future. you can ask a local plumbing company Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air’s sump pump services can help you determine how much your sump pump can handle or whether due to internal wiring issues your sump pump may just need replacing.

When your sump pump starts getting noisy

A sump pump usually runs quite quietly, particularly if you have a submersible sump pump. That is a sump pump that sits in a reservoir or sump pit and is submerged while it operates with protective barriers to make it waterproof. Water usually covers the motor, which is why it is silent. If you hear anything above a dim hum, then there’s an internal problem with your sump pump and it may even be damaged.

This is opposed to a pedestal sump pump, which has its motor perched on top of a pedestal. Sitting on top of the pedestal, it has a hose that goes into the sump reservoir. The water goes through the hose and drains away from the house. It has less power than a submersible pump but it is better at dealing with minor flooding as it contains a float that rises with the water level and trips the switch once it reaches the top.

Call Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air for sump pump services and find out if your sump pump needs replacing or if it can be repaired.

When water starts creeping into your basement

If water starts creeping into your basement then the sump pump isn’t really doing its job, although it still may be working. It may just be a heavy rainstorm and your sump pump just isn’t large enough or has the capacity or horsepower to remove it quickly enough.

As the experts to find out what is wrong with your sump pump and get advice with sump pump services for the best way forward.

When it starts to vibrate excessively

Excessive reverberations might indicate that you have sucked up extra debris that damaged the impeller. When the impeller is bent or damaged then it causes the whole pump to wobble, leading to a noisier pump, a sign of problems to come. It’s quite difficult to re-bend the impeller back into shape and you may need to replace the whole unit.

Other ways to keep your sump pump from knocking off prematurely

The thing with a sump pump is it only tends to be used when it’s raining, but actually it benefits from being tested regularly. Otherwise, there’s a risk its operational life could be reduced. To help it last the distance, test it in between heavy showers to keep it in working order.

Rust around the pump could also indicate a corroded battery terminal or bacteria, otherwise known as iron bacteria. In some cases, this bacteria forms a gel-like substance that can clog the plumbing. If you see any rust, Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air to help clean it up.

If your pump is prone to hoovering up sediments such as rocks then this could get the motor stuck. Use a filter to catch all the gunk and save your pump the hard work.

It’s also wise to call a plumber if your unit is more than seven years old or if it came with the house and there’s a question mark over the quality of workmanship. Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air can provide an inspection and advice on any problems, offering value for money on its sump pump services.

Replacing a sump pump is after all a small price to pay compared to the water damage that not having one will cause to your basement.