What is a Sump Pump

Your sump pump is like an unnoticed hero in your basement- valiantly defending your home from flooding, heavy rains and high repair costs. Sump pumps often slip people’s minds due to being out of sight, but they play a vital part in your home’s infrastructure.

Sump pumps are a device that work by moving water from inside your basement to the outside. They consist of two main parts: the sump and the pump. The sump is a hole constructed in your basement which holds the pump. The pump is equipped with valves that sense water levels and pressure. When it senses that levels are too high, it automatically alerts itself to pump water out of your home using a discharge line.

Water damage results in some of the highest costing repairs, so it’s crucial to maintain a functioning sump pump. You wouldn’t want them to fail in the moment you need most! However, if you need a replacement, you can count on Earl’s Plumbing for some trusty Frisco plumbing work.

How Do Sump Pumps Work?

All sump pumps have a mechanism that detects when water levels/pressure is too high. These check valves trigger the device to start pumping once the water inside it reaches a certain level. The water will be moved to the discharge pipe, which expels the excess water. Most water pumps should have a designated area: some being the neighborhood drain, creek, dry well or a nearby body of water.

Signs you need to replace your Sump Pump

Most sump pumps last for about 7-10 years before they start to malfunction. Due to being out of sight and their long durability, you might forget that it’s there. If it’s been more than 10 years since you’ve last had your sump pump replaced or are noticing any of the signs below, it’s time to give us a call.

Noises. All sump pumps make some sort of noise when they’re draining water. However, it should never be loud enough for you to hear upstairs! If you’re noticing loud noises, this indicates that your sump pump may be reaching the end of its life span or something has malfunctioned.

Constant Running. Your sump pump should never be continuously running. This could mean that your check valve has a problem or that your pump is too small to handle the amount of water.
Rust. If you see browning around and on your sump pump, this means it could be from bacteria. Iron bacteria is not an immediate human health hazard, but it creates a gel-like substance that can cause clogging and plumbing issues.

Excessive Vibration. Sometimes debris or hard objects may have gotten sucked into your pump, which may cause your impeller to be damaged. A damaged impeller causes stress on the whole system.

Plumbing Made Easy

We understand how stressful it is when something in your home malfunctions – especially something as important as your plumbing! Luckily, we’re here to serve you- for any questions about sump pumps, our services, or anything plumbing related, contact Earl’s Plumbing today!