Sump Pump Failure or Malfuction: why your Parkville Maryland basement flooded and 3 tips for preventing it next time.

4/12/2017 (Permalink)

Sump Pump Failure or Malfuction: why it flooded your Parkville Maryland basement.

To put it simply, you know your sump pump is failing to operate properly when water gets where it shouldn’t. Sump pumps are used to remove water that has accumulated in a water-collecting sump basin, commonly found in the basement of homes. This is why Sump Pumps work hard during heavy rains and during snowmelt. SERVPRO of Perry Hall White Marsh is going to tell you about the ideal sump pump for flood prevention and 3 tips for preventing Sump Pump failure and malfunction.

The Ideal Sump Pump

The best primary sump pumps are high capacity, cast iron models, with a battery backup and a secondary pump. The most common issues with sump pumps that fail to operate properly is power outage or being overwhelmed with a high volume of water. Sometimes a single pump isn’t enough to handle large amounts of water, especially during periods of heavy rain when your power is most likely to go out.

Make sure you have a drain tile or gravel surround that’s installed along the perimeter of your basement. This drain tile works to collect ground water from around your foundation and funnels it into the sump pump. Older homes may have a French Drain that operates in the same fashion as a drain tile or gravel surround. Not having this channel at all is an obvious issue, but it could also be clogged or sitting at an angle that cannot properly route water where it needs to go.

Check for debris in your pump. If your sump pit doesn’t have a solid lid, it will inevitably fill with debris and dirt, clogging your unit. If your pump or any of its mechanical parts are exposed to substantial debris, your system will fail to run properly or shut down altogether. If switches become jammed due to dirt buildup, they may get stuck in the “on” position regardless of the inner water levels of your pit, which will cause your unit to run nonstop.

Discharge lines that are clogged or frozen will shut down your system as well. If you’re experiencing frozen lines, it’s best to contact a professional for repair and installment of preventative maintenance fluids and guards.

SERVPRO of Perry Hall was founded in 2001, and is located in Rosedale, Maryland. We specialize in Fire water and storm clean up and we also remediate mold. Call us at 410-529-1664 if you need help with water clean up from your sump pump failure In your Baltimore county basement