Whether or not a sump pump is needed is generally determined when the house is built. The county engineers will already have an understanding of the land and the water table in that area.
When the sump pump goes into the ground, it has a pipe that goes around the whole perimeter of the house. The reason is that when the water table rises, it will go into that pipe, no matter where it comes in under that concrete slab. The water is then directed to that pump basin so that the pump can pump it out.
The two big reasons that a sump pump will fail are these:
- A lack of proper maintenance
- Age
A sump pump is so important to your home. It’s crucial to have an expert out often to diagnose any problems early on and provide preventative maintenance.
Age is not something you can prevent, unfortunately. Your sump pump should be replaced every ten years or so.
It will just stay running.
If the float mechanism is stuck or the float mechanism is not working properly, then the pump will run forever. You should also always be wary of a burning, electrical smell. If you notice that scent hanging around your sump pump, it’s best to unplug the it and call us.
The first thing you want to have is a clean environment. Once we remove the piping and the pump, the discharge drain line and the pump, we will go in and clear out the bottom of the basin.
We mentioned that big six-inch line that runs around the house. It’s in mud, it’s in dirt, it’s in gravel. So, over the years, the bottom of that pit will fill up with dirt, sediment, debris, rocks, and gravel.
Once that’s cleaned out and we’re sure that the new pump has a healthy environment, we can move forward with installation.
