Sump Pump Failure

Depending on the amount of water to be removed and the equipment and methods used to dry out the basement, the costs of pumping outstanding water and thoroughly drying a flooded basement can range from $500 to more than $10,000.

Planning and maintenance are the best ways to avoid sump pump failures. You could have a defective sump pump, but more often than not, problems arise due to poor maintenance or improper installation.

Identifying the problems that cause your sump pump to fail is key to preventing it from failing in the future. A power outage is the most common cause of sump pump failure. A blackout can cause problems for sump pumps, which rely on your house for power. If this is a common occurrence you should consider installing a battery backup system.

A standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover water damage caused by a failed sump pump in most cases. Water backups and sump pump failures/overflows will only cover property damage – not the repair of the faulty appliance or sump pump.

It might seem overwhelming to replace a sump pump, but it is a fairly straightforward undertaking that can be undertaken by a homeowner. It is important that you install a sump pump that is the right size for your sump basin and that has enough horsepower to keep your basement dry. Replace an older pump that has performed reliably and satisfactorily for you with a newer model of the same model. You may want to consult a plumber if you need to increase the size or horsepower of the pump if it failed because it couldn’t handle the volume of water.