Sump Pump Failure, Can We Not?

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

If you wake up to a flooded basement call our SERVPRO of Iowa City/Coralville office at 319-338-8550.

It’s Jacob, Digital Marketing Coordinator, and I recently went to the Job File Coordinator’s Office to ask them a simple question: What is Causing Our Water Jobs?

“Sump Pump Failures with all the rain we’ve been getting.” So I thought, let me explain some of the most common ways that cause sump pumps to fail.

The Clogged Discharge Pipe

If you haven’t checked your sump pump recently, I recommend checking to see if it is draining thoroughly. A lot of people run into the issues when the drain is clogged, and the flood water flows back down the pipe and into your basement. A simple way to combat this is by ensuring the opening of the discharge pipe has a grate. This prevents any chance of clog from forming.

Power Failure

The weather we’ve seen in the Midwest region has created the perfect situation to fail your sump pump. When intense storms pass through your area, it can cause power outages and excess rain. When you combine those two factors, you allow yourself to fall victim to a flooded basement. No power means the pump won’t work, causing the water backup. To avoid this, purchase a backup generator that allows you to turn it on manually.