Can you overwork a sump pump? (2023)

Can a sump pump be overworked?

Overworked Sump Pump

If you've recently experienced heavy rains, your sump pump may be overwhelmed by a heavy flow of water. When your sump pump is overwhelmed or overworked, it can end up breaking down or malfunctioning.

When the sump pump constantly cycles, it can wear out the motor and decrease the system's service life. To fix this issue, there are three areas you should inspect: the float switch, check valve, and discharge pipe.

How often should your sump pump run? A sump pump should only run when it is needed. This could be a significant amount, and for various reasons. If you live in a very wet climate, then the water table may be higher than your basement floor, which means that the pump could run 2 or 3 times a day for a couple of minutes.

Overworked Sump Pump

Sump pumps safely discharge water that would otherwise flood a home's basement or foundation safely away from the property. Heavy rains can cause your sump pump to work overtime to protect your home against flooding. This increases the risk of the sump pump overheating or getting burned out.

What Causes a Sump Pump to Short Cycle? In most cases, short cycling is a symptom of a fault in your pump's float switch—a device which floats on the surface of the water in your sump basin and then turns your pump on when the water reaches a particular level.

The most common mechanical failure in a sump pump occurs when the switch becomes stuck in the ON or OFF position, causing the pump to run continuously or not at all. Sump pumps can fail for a variety of reasons, including power outages, lack of maintenance, old age or improper installation.

It depends on the quality of the sump pump, and the amount of water that comes in your sump pit. High-quality sump pumps can run for 20-24 hours straight, low-quality sump pumps can run for 6-18. After that, the sump pump requires a break.

A sump pump should only run when it is needed because the water in the basement has reached a certain level. Those who live in areas where it rains frequently will see their sump pump running fairly often. In some cases, it might turn on a few times per day.

It's perfectly normal for a sump pump pit to always have some water in it. This water can be the result of rain, snowmelt, or seepage from the ground. That being said, when the water rises to a certain level, this should trigger your sump pump's float switch. This will cause the pump to turn on and start working.

How long does it take for a sump pump to burn out?

Sump pumps last about 7 to 10 years, but they can burn out faster if they're too small or not maintained. If you think the sump pump has failed, your best bet is to hire a professional to diagnose the failure, recommend a replacement, and install it. On average, the cost to install a sump pump is about $1,200.

The most common cause of a sump pump system running continuously is when the sump pump float switch is stuck on the "on" position in your sump pit. This will cause it to run even when all water has been removed, which will burn out the pump prematurely.

Generally, with your sump pump filling after heavy rain, it's because your gutters are clogged or overflowing or your downspouts are not discharging away from the foundation. Or the soil around the house is not sloping away from the outside walls.

A sump pump is a relatively inexpensive water mitigation system. But like any piece of equipment in your home, it will eventually fail which can result in flooding, water backups, or water damage to your basement.

A clogged drain line can make a sump pump run even with no rain or excess water in sight. Over time, the drain line can fill with debris making it difficult for water to pass though. When water can't drain it will build up in the basin causing the pump to malfunction. If not repaired, the pump can overheat and fail.

This discharges the water above the ground outside the house, so that it can safely drain away from the home and foundation. The reason that you should never unplug your sump pump is that water can drain into the sump pit at any time, even in the dead of winter.

A sump pump can clog up in many ways:

The sump pit (the hole in which the sump pump sits) gets clogged with dirt and debris. The pump's mechanical parts become clogged and dirty over time, especially if the sump sits straight against the bottom of a dirty sump pit where silt typically accumulates.

A: Most pumps will not burn up, but they can overheat. Almost all sump pump motors have thermal protection built in, but the submersible type needs water around the motor for cooling. If the pump overheats, shut it off and let it cool. The thermal relay will reset.

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF A WEAK SUMP PUMP FLOW:

Clogged Screens-A clogged screen on your sump pump is certainly a possible source of weak flow. Switch Issues-Switches can become disconnected and may contain debris. Frozen drainage pipes-With cold weather, a frozen drainage pipe is another possible cause of weak flow.

Yes, you can run a submersible pump continuously for as long as you require if you have the suitable source of water. Saying that, it is imperative that you do not run a submersible pump dry. Running the majority of submersible pumps dry can cause significant damage to the inner motor and components.

Can I put a chlorine tablet in my sump pump?

If you have excessive odors coming from the pump, dropping a chlorine tablet in the basin every few months should help get rid of any algae growth causing the smell. Chlorine will also help neutralize any iron ore algae and prevent it from clogging the pump.

If a pump is too large, the pump will cycle on and off more than it needs to, which can result in a shorter pump life. If the pump is too small, it may not be able to pump the water out or it will run too long and too hot, shortening the pump life.

Is it normal for a sump pump to run every 3 minutes? NO but be thankful it DOES run every 3 minutes - your pump is fine BUT THE water flow to the pumped out area seems excessive OR your float switch is set way too sensitive.

The easiest way to tell if your sump pump is clogged is to check whether it expels excess water from your home—when it rains, for example. If it removes the excess water, it's not clogged. If it doesn't remove the water, thus causing partial or total flooding in your basement, it's clogged.

Sump pump and/or liner is too small or too big - The sump pump may just not be big enough to handle the job, so it runs continuously to keep up (see #1 above). Or the pump is powerful enough but the sump pit may be too small, causing it to fill up too fast and triggering the sump pump to work overtime.

An increase in groundwater is one of the most common reasons your sump pump may be running without rain. A broken pipe, nearby construction, or overflowing water sources can increase the amount of groundwater, which can then pool at the bottom of your home and turn your sump pump on.