Sump Pump Repairs

Avoid Flooding Issues by Having Your Sump Pump Repaired by a Bridgewater Plumber

The Correct Sump Pump Installation, Maintenance, and Repair will Give you Peace of Mind and Your Basement Flood-free!

If you don’t know what a “sump pump” is then you more than likely don’t need one, however, if you have a wet basement then you know exactly what it is and you probably need one. They are very important items if you have a basement that is at risk for flooding, as they can help to keep it dry and save you lots of money in water damage repairs as well. They must be kept serviced and maintained in order to continue to work correctly.

How it Works

A sump pump is designed to remove water that has collected over time in a water collecting basin. These basins are usually found in basements of residences, but can be found in other places. The water enters the basin and when it hits a certain level the pump turns on and pumps the water out and away from the home to ensure it is no longer a problem for the home. Places this water can be pumped to are storm drains or dry wells. They are used for basements that are susceptible to constant flooding as well as to solve dampness problems. Although they are usually hardwired into a homeowner’s electrical system, some have a back up battery. While others use pressurized water supply to power the pump. These helpful devices are established in the lowest part of a basement or crawl space in the home.

Types of Pumps Used By Plumbers in Bridgewater

There are typically two types of pumps used: a pedestal and a submersible. The pedestal pumps motor is mounted on a shaft which is outside the sump basin, there is a vertical float which is designed to be adjustable for specific on/off points which make it ideal for small sump pits. These are economical, need to be positioned where the motor cannot be submerged and the repairs to these are easier since the motor is exposed. The Submersible pump has a sealed motor within the basin and is installed below water level. These pumps are quiet and not as obtrusive, safer for small children in the homes, ideal for finished looking basements and looks cleaner. There are also back-up ones of which there are two types batter and municipal water powered. These are designed to kick in if the main pump fails. Battery powered are used if the electricity goes out, and the water pressure pumps will keep working without electricity as they are powered by water.

The Mechanism of a Pump

For an explanation on how it works we start with the pit, which is about 2 feet or 60 centimeters wide, and 18 inches or 45 centimeters deep. This pit is put in the lowest part of a basement or crawlspace. Once the pit fills with water the pump turns on, and filters the water away from the home to a drain off spot. The drain off pipe usually has a one way valve on it to keep the water from flowing back into the pit. Most pumps have an automatic turn on via a pressure sensor, when the sensor is triggered the pump turns on and pumps out the water, keeping the basement dry.

Common Problems Encountered by Local Plumbing Experts in Bridgewater

When waterproofing a basement, you got to have a complete equipment. One that will stay ahead of any water rising to destroy your months of hard work on your man cave, home office, or play room. There are some common problems that all homeowners should know. The main thing that a homeowner should know is that there is never a “minor” problem. Any problem can spell disaster for your basement. To keep major disasters from happening pay attention to these problems and stomp them out quickly.

• Clogged intake – this will prevent the pump from extracting water from the pit
• Power Outages/Failure – Unless there is a back up battery or they are water powered the pump will be non-functional.
• Underpowered Pumps – This pump can’t handle the amount of water during high storm output
• Pump Burn-Out – faulty parts in a pump can cause this to happen. overworked, underpowered, and even cheap pumps can have this happen to them.
• Old Age – ensure that you have an up to date machine every 5 to 7 years at the most.
• Sump Discharge Pipe is frozen– in brutal winters if pipes are not angled properly water will collect and freeze in the pipe blocking it which keeps the water from exiting the pit.
• Overwhelmed pump – make sure that you have a pump that can handle the job it is being installed for. Otherwise, you may overwhelm your pump and get a wet basement.

There is no imperfect pump, however you do get what you pay for, ensure that you buy a good pump that will do what you need it to do and one large enough to handle the space you are putting it in.

Repairs

When a torrential downpour occurs the sucking machine starts to work, however if for some reason it fails then you will have a flooded basement. It is important to always have it serviced and maintained but often it will still need repairs. When it fails, call our professional Bridgewater plumbing crew! It is important as we can work quickly to fix your issue while trying to keep the water from filling your basement. There are many things that could cause a pump to not work correctly these are. The check valve, if this is jammed, or not fitted correctly then water goes back into the basin and creates stress on the pump.  The float is an important part of the pump as it helps to tell the pump when to start pumping the water out of the basement. If that doesn’t work then the pump does not know to pump the water out.  If the pump is out of power then it cannot pump water either.  There are many other reasons that it may stop working and need repairs but regardless of what or why contacting reliable local Bridgewater Plumber is the way to ensure your repairs are handled quickly.