Things Every Homeowner in the Triangle, NC Should Know About Sump Pumps
You may have asked yourself what is making that noise in the basement, or put some mind to the prospect of a flooded basement in the wake of a particularly hard rain in North Carolina. Can you say with any certainty when your sump pump is on its last legs?
Any homeowner in the Triangle ought to have an answer for such questions and we are here to provide them. JD Service Now has been a fixture in the greater Raleigh-Durham area since 2005; we are your local, Durham based company. For a water emergency or any plumbing matter, our team is at (919) 680-1634.
In many ways sump pumps are the home’s unsung heroes. You do not give them much thought until there is water where it does not belong. We would like to put forward a few facts about these industrious machines that are as practical as they are interesting.
The Function of a Sump Pump
Typically you will find one in a pit in the basement or crawl space, the lowest point of the house. Its job is to turn on and carry off any rainwater or groundwater that has made its way into the pit, thus protecting your foundation. It is a straightforward concept but the results speak for themselves.
Up here in the Triangle you can have a summer thunderstorm or the tail end of a tropical system put down inches of rain in an afternoon, so the sump pump has important work to do. A good one will spare you an expensive repair and keep your crawl space dry.
Some Fun Facts
Most homeowners do not appreciate how long and odd a history sump pumps have. The following are worth mentioning at the next cookout:
- “Sump” is an old word for a marsh or swamp, very apt for what the pump has to contend with.
- They come in two varieties: the submersible which is in the water in the pit, and the pedestal type with the motor left high and dry.
- Put a residential pump to full strength and it will put dozens of gallons a minute to work.
- Expect 7 to 10 years out of a sump pump; if yours is past that it is running on borrowed time.
- You want a battery backup in case a storm takes out the power and many are so equipped.
- There are alarms on some to let you know if the water is getting too high.
When to Worry About Your Sump Pump
A sump pump is not going to put up a polite warning before it stops working, but it will show you. Be on the lookout for:
- Grinding or loud humming from the unit while in use
- One that seems to run whether it has rained or not
- Rust or corrosion you can see
- Water the pump is not putting an end to in and around the pit
- Rapid cycling with no explanation
- A pump that refuses to engage when the pit is full
Should you recognise any of this, let a professional have a look at it ahead of the next big storm.
The Case for Testing
It is easy to test and only a matter of minutes. Put a bucket of water in the pit and make sure the pump comes on to clear it and then goes off. Make a habit of it twice a year, come hurricane season, and you will be on top of any trouble. Debris in the form of gravel or dirt is something else to be mindful of as it can clog the pump or the float switch.
A Local Team for the Whole Home
Your sump pump is part of the overall drainage and plumbing of the house and having a single team to handle it is an advantage. At JD Service Now we put HVAC, electrical, drain and sewer and plumbing under one roof. With over 100 years of experience between our technicians and a 4.9-star Google rating from 5,000 plus reviews, we take pride in our work.
We are licensed and insured and cover all of the Triangle from Durham and Raleigh to Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, Wake Forest and Chapel Hill. Water issues are not bound by business hours and neither is our 24/7 emergency service.
Give us a call at (919) 680-1634 if you need some peace of mind or your sump pump is giving you trouble. JD Service Now will do it right.