You May Need Wet Basement Repair if Your Sump Pump Fails

The installation of a sump pump is a great way to ensure your basement area remains moisture free and helps you avoid the need for wet basement repair. If you’ve never seen a sump pump before and are not sure what one is, they are automatic pumps that remove any unwanted moisture that enters your basement. A sump pit will be dug out in the lowest point of your basement, with the pump being placed inside or close to it. Moisture, under the influence of gravity will always make its way down to this pit, at which point the sump pump kicks in and directs this water into your property’s wastewater system, safely ushering it away from your home’s foundations. In most cases this is an excellent preventative measure to take against the threat of a wet basement, but should your sump pump fail and go unnoticed for a considerable amount of time, you may still need the assistance of a Toronto wet basement repair expert. New Canadian Drain & Plumbing is one of the leading plumbing contractors in Toronto, specializing in drain related work as well as wet basement repair solutions and advises you to keep a watchful eye on the performance of your sump pump.

Sump Pump Problems that Can Require the Assistance of a Wet Basement Repair Pro

Sump pumps are the so called “first line of defence” in the fight against moisture, but you might find it troubling to learn that it’s not uncommon for this piece of equipment to experience problems that could affect its ability to protect your basement. We are going to talk you through some of the most common sump pump problems that you should look out for.

No Power

Sump pumps don’t run on thin air! The pump needs to be supplied with power, just like every other appliance and gadget used in your home. If the circuit breaker has tripped, there’s a problem with the main grid in your area or there’s a problem with the pump’s wiring, it won’t really do much, in fact, it won’t do anything at all when called into action. If you have the budget available, it’s always worth considering investing in a back-up pump that runs off a battery supply, as this ensures your basement is still protected against floods (and the consequent need for wet basement repair!) even when circumstances arise that you have no control over, i.e. the main power grid in your area going down.

Pump’s Switch Doesn’t Trigger the Pump

Depending on the type of sump pump that you have, it will be “triggered” in a different way. For example, sump pumps that are submerged under water in the pit use what’s known as a diaphragm switch, which reacts to increases in water pressure. This type of trigger is generally the most reliable, but pedestal sump pumps that use tethered floats often get caught on the side of the sump pit, meaning they don’t communicate a rise in water level to the pump. For these reasons, most wet basement repair experts would recommend you purchase a model that features either a diaphragm switch (pressure sensitive switch we mentioned earlier) or a vertical action float, which is a simple ball that floats on top of the water in the sump pit, rising with the water level and triggering the pump’s switch.

System Overload

Not all sump pumps are the same; some are more heavy duty than others and subsequently more capable of dealing with difficult conditions. If your sump pump is not able to pump water out of your basement quicker than it comes in, your basement will still flood and a call to a wet basement repair professional will be necessary. For a pump that is frequently called into action, maybe because your home is positioned on a particularly high water table, we would recommend your pump has at least 1/2 horsepower and is capable of pumping roughly 50 – 60 gallons of water every minute.

Frozen Discharge Pipe

If the discharge pipe to your sump pump freezes this causes a blockage and water can no longer be pumped out of your basement; instead it just falls back down into the sump pit. In Toronto, where temperatures frequently drop below zero during the winter months, this happens in a large number of households.  To ensure this doesn’t happen, the discharge pipe needs to be laid straight; without kinks that will allow water to collect.

Another important thing to remember is that your sump pump won’t last forever. They tend to perform at optimum efficiency for just a few years and a wet basement repair expert would always advise you to consider purchasing a new one every five years or so. New Canadian Drain & Plumbing specializes in wet basement repair and waterproofing in the Toronto area , and should you wish to have a sump pump installed at your property, or you believe your current sump pump is in need of repair, talk to a member of our team by calling (416) 651-2990. Visit us on Google+