It’s time to talk about common sump pump problems that could lead to water damage. This year’s rain storms have caused floodings in several cities, such as Toronto, Mississauga, Scarborough, and Hamilton. Homes that need cracked foundation repair or exterior basement waterproofing are at risk of allowing inches or even several feet of water to seep into basements. If you are wondering “what is a battery backup pump?” we can answer that question more with the following content.
This could lead to water damage, mould, and other complications. The Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors states that even a few inches could cause damage that will set a homeowner back thousands of dollars.
One of the most important flood prevention tools you can have in your house is a sump pump. These are pumps used to remove water that collects in the basement. If the pump stops working, your basement could be in trouble if you do not immediately invest in sump pump repair.
Here is a list of a few other problems you can run into with these pumps:
- No Power:
Your sump pump is like any other electrical appliance in your house. If the power fails, your sump pump will be rendered useless. The motor used to power the pump will stop working, and the water it is flushing out will likely rise and flood into your basement. There is no need for sump pump repair in this case. Instead, you should consider having a back-up sump pump for power outages in a rainstorm.
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Overload:
Not every sump pump will be able to handle large volumes of water. You should at least have a one-third horsepower sump pump, which will be able to pump about 35 gallons of water a minute. This usually guarantees you enough power to keep your basement safe, but if you want to be even more cautious, you can buy a one-half horsepower sump pump and keep a battery-powered one just in case.
- Frozen Pipe:
If you live where the winters are harsh, you might find that your sump pump fails on you when everything thaws in the spring. The water suspended through ice will eventually melt and could cause an overflow, as it will be too much for the pump to handle the melted ice or snow in addition to a rainstorm. For these situations, you can have a sump pump extension installed to help remove the excess water if this happens to you.
In addition to regularly checking on your sump pump and either replacing or investing in sump pump repair when necessary, it would be wise to have exterior and interior basement waterproofing done. Taking these extra precautions could save you thousands of dollars worth of damage and protect your home from the heavy rains this spring.
