Long-term forecasts indicate that this year Kansas will experience a hotter, wetter summer than average. And for residents of Olathe, this means remaining vigilant about the health of your sump pump lest the season's torrential rainfall leave you with a flooded basement. For those with summertime travel plans, due diligence is especially crucial—nothing has the potential to (quite literally) dampen that post-vacation mood like returning home to find your basement rec room transformed into an indoor swimming pool.
Sump pumps are subject to a number of problems, many of which can be avoided or corrected through regular maintenance. First and foremost, an improperly installed sump pump will almost certainly fail to protect your basement from flood damage. A sump pump's performance is reliant on a fully functioning drainage system, which means that if it is not properly connected to a drain tile—or if the drain tile itself is clogged or collapsed—the pump will not do its job.
One of the most common yet easily avoidable sump pump problems involves clogs caused by dirt and debris, which are especially likely to contaminate systems that do not have a tightly fitting lid. These foreign bodies can not only stop up the pump itself, but also jam the "float switch," which is responsible for regulating the water level in the pit and turning the pump on and off.
If a sump pump seems to be running too frequently—for instance, during a stint of dry weather or non-stop—any number of issues, all of which a skilled professional performing maintenance is sure to recognize, could be at play. These include a broken or missing check valve in the discharge line, an ill-fitting liner, and a faulty switch.
In some cases, a sump pump may need to be replaced even it appears to be in working order. For example, an overwhelmed sump pump—that is, a pump that is cheaply constructed or possesses insufficient horsepower—may not display its weaknesses until it is too late. Similar to, say, a window unit A/C in a mansion, an underpowered sump pump can be virtually useless against the power of nature. Anything below 1/3 horsepower (1/2 if your house sits in a higher water table or your pump gets frequent usage) is likely to be unable to pump as much water as necessary, or even to burn out entirely, when confronted with a high volume of water.
On the topic of sump pump burnout, a final note: While that pump you've been using for years may, at first glance, appear to be in good shape, experts recommend that sump pumps be replaced every five to seven years without fail. This is because older systems, and especially those that have seen a lot of action, might give out at any time. And honestly, why risk a flooding disaster by waiting for your aged sump pump to die on its own?
Given how hard your sump pump works to keep your basement flood-free, it would be wise to return the favor (and save yourself the expense of recovering from a flood) by investing in a sump pump inspection as part of your HVAC tune-up. Fortunately, for those in need of an Olathe plumbing company the experts are just a phone call away!
Founded in 1980, Davenport Service Company has provided "Customer First" service in Johnson County, Kansas for over three decades. We provide 24/7 emergency service, preventive maintenance service, and seasonal tune-ups for commercial and residential heating and air conditioning systems. If you're looking for a sump pump specialist in Olathe, call 913-441-2222 for hassle-free scheduling today!
