Is it normal for a sump pump to run every day? (2023)

Is it normal for a sump pump to run every day?

Sump pumps should not be running constantly and if they are then it is more than likely that there is a problem. If water starts to enter your basement, then this is when the sump pump kicks into life and starts the process or removing water from the basement.

If the float switch and check valve are functioning properly, your sump pump might keep running because the discharge pipe is clogged. Sometimes dirt and other debris make their way into the discharge pipe and build up over time—resulting in a clog that blocks water from exiting the sump pump.

If your house is too close to the water table line or an underground spring, the sump pump must constantly run to prevent the basement from flooding. Heavy rainfall or snowmelt can provoke or worsen this problem.

Issues With a Sump Pump Float Switch

Most problems with continuous running usually originate from a malfunctioning sump pump float switch. A sump pump float switch is vital for a sump pump system to work. Once the float reaches a certain point the process of the pumping sequence for the system will commence.

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.

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.

However, if it continuously runs and not from the amount of water entering the pit, that means there's an issue with the system. When the sump pump constantly cycles, it can wear out the motor and decrease the system's service life.

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.

Does a sump pump mean the house floods?

Why Do Some Homes Have Sump Pumps and Others Don't? A sump pump is a device that eliminates moisture and prevents flooding in a home. Typically housed in a specially constructed pit below the main surface of a basement, a sump pump collects excess water from drains and pumps it out of the pit and away from the house.

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.

Sump Pump Runs, but Doesn't Remove Water

If it appears that your sump pump operates but no water is removed from the sump basin, a few issues are commonly to blame – a malfunctioning check valve, damaged impeller, clog in the discharge pipe or suction intake screen or a leaky discharge line. Inspect the check valve.

Like other appliances and equipment in your home, your sump pump won't last forever. Averaging about 10 years, you might not notice your sump pump has malfunctioned until it has stopped working. And once it does, water damage to your home and the belongings within it can follow closely behind.

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.

The most energy-efficient sump pumps use less than 0.5 horsepower. A ⅓ horsepower sump pump uses around 800-1050W while running and 13,000-4,100W to start up, whereas a 0.5-hp sump pump uses more than 1.5 times that amount just to start up.

No. If your sump pump runs that often, then you have a drainage problem, or maybe a leak. Also, possibly the pump switch is not adjusted for the correct depth.

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.

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.

Many plumbers solve only simple sump pump problems. But a sump pump is often part of a system that keeps the basement or crawl space dry. So if the water problem in your basement or crawl space extends beyond your sump pump, a plumber likely won't be able to help.

How do you check if a sump pump is working properly?

The first way to test the sump pump is to trace the two electrical cords of the sump pump. The pump cord plugs into the back of the float cord plug. Both cables should be unplugged, and only the pump cord should be plugged into the outlet. If you hear a humming sound when turning on the pump, the pump works.

Pedestal sump pumps, which are smaller than submersible sump pumps, usually feature around one-third to one-half horsepower motors, which amounts to about $15 to $20 per month in electricity costs.

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.

While a sump pump signifies a seller is taking the initiative towards addressing moisture in the home, its presence in the basement will typically raise the antenna of buyers, agents, and home inspectors. Once they see a sump pump, they're going to look more closely for signs of water damage.

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.

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.

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.

Like other appliances and equipment in your home, your sump pump won't last forever. Averaging about 10 years, you might not notice your sump pump has malfunctioned until it has stopped working. And once it does, water damage to your home and the belongings within it can follow closely behind.

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.