7 Signs You Need to Replace Your Sump Pump

Sump pumps are known to fail in the worst moment possible. I stand by my opinion that it’s not the sump pump’s fault. You can’t just forget about your sump pump or put all your trust in it. The pump needs to be regularly checked out, if you don’t want your basement to be flooded. So, here are seven signs which point to a dying sump pump.

If your sump pump has any of the signs we will go over, you need to replace your sump pump. Visit our list of the best sump pumps so you can replace it with a better model.

The signs of a bad sump pump are: old age, rust, loud noises, takes too long to clean out the basin, working constantly, and regular clogging, A sump pump that displays any of these signs needs replacing, not fixing.

Stay with me as we go through each of the signs thoroughly.

1. Corrosion

Sump basins aren’t exactly the perfect place to install an appliance. Harsh basin conditions are deadly even for the most durable pumps. By ‘durable’, we mean a pump that can last for years in the basin without corroding.

Manufacturers have been able to make some good corrosion-resistant pumps. The time in the basin takes its toll though. Even the durable models will get rust, after a certain number of years.

So, does your sump pump have rust? It’s a good idea to check if that’s the case, now and then. Submersible pumps are more prone to corrosion due to the fact that they are placed in the sump water. Pedestal pumps rarely get rust, when they do, it’s easily noticeable.

A rusty sump pump can clog the discharge lines. As the sump pump is corroding, it is dissolving in the water. So, the basin water will have a rusty color and smell. The material released from the pump can form a blockage in the discharge lines.

The most dangerous thing about a rusty sump pump is that it’s hanging by a thread. The pump can fall apart, and soon enough, you’ll find yourself with a flooded basement. Don’t wait for that to happen.

Check if your basin water has a rusty color. You can also take out the whole pump, and inspect it. If there are signs of rust, replace the sump pump. Make it a habit to do this when you’re also doing maintenance on the pump.

Try a more durable model or a pedestal pump if all of your sump pumps had corrosion problems.

2. Low performance

Is your sump pump not working as well as it did? Another sign that your pump needs changing is low performance. To clarify, by ‘performance’ I mean the number of gallons the pump moves.

Manufacturers state a certain number of gallons that the pump should move. That number decreases over the years. You shouldn’t worry about a slight decrease in performance.

If you didn’t make a big mistake in sizing the sump pump, the decline in performance will not affect the volume of water in the basin. Eventually, the decline will reach a point where the pump can’t handle the sump water in time.

So, when the pump reaches that point of low performance, it needs to be replaced with a new one. Unfortunately, the decline in performance is usually noticed by the flooded basement. How do you notice this before it’s too late though?

The decrease in performance is accompanied by longer working periods. If there weren’t heavy rains recently, the pump should not be overworking. Test out the performance of the pump by adding water in the basin.

If your sump pump isn’t handling water quickly enough, replace it with a new one.

3. Sump pump won’t stop

A sump pump that won’t stop running is closely connected with the low performance sign. There are three reasons why a sump pump won’t stop: a faulty float switch, declining performance, and wrong sizing.

The float switch is the least reliable component of the pump, so a sump pump that won’t stop because of a faulty switch is common. It’s a problem that’s quickly noticeable, and easy to fix. No need to replace the pump because of the switch.

We’ve already covered pumps with low performance, so nothing to add there. Just keep that option in mind.

A brand new or relatively new pump that won’t stop running is an entirely different problem. Nothing to do with the switch or decline in performance. In these cases, the pump is not properly sized for the basin. So, no matter what you try, the pump won’t handle the water.

I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but if you find yourself in this situation, you bought the wrong pump. You need a new one, an appropriate model for your basin.

4. Banging noises

Sump pumps will sometimes audibly warn you of an issue. Banging noises or vibrations coming from the sump pump are not a good sign at all. The problem may be fixable, in most cases the pump needs to be replaced though.

A crooked impeller usually produces the banging noises. By default, if something is wrong with the impeller, the pump can’t suck the water out. So, do you replace a pump because of a crooked impeller?

With most models, replacing the impeller is complicated or quite expansive. You’ll be better off buying a new sump pump instead. If you have a brand new pump with this problem, I guess replacing the impeller makes sense.

Another reason why the sump pump would be making banging noises is rust. Corrosion can eat away the inner components of the pump first. So, as it falls apart, you’ll hear noises or feel vibrations. In this case, you definitely replace the pump.

You must be near the pump to notice banging noises. What I’m saying is, it wouldn’t hurt to check up on the pump once in a while. Just to check for these noises or other issues.

5. Constant clogging

One of the side effects of a wrongly sized pump is clogged discharge lines. I can’t stress enough how important it is to correctly size your sump pump. How many gallons of water does the pump have to handle? How big is the sump pit?

Too powerful sump pumps empty out the basin very quick, picking up debris along the way. Even pumps with debris protection will eventually clog if this is the case. So, if you constantly find clogged discharge lines, you need a smaller, weaker pump.

Some homeowners like to go all out on their sump pump. This usually leads to installing a pump that is just too big for its basin. The discharge lines will constantly get clogged because the impeller is always picking up debris.

A badly sized sump pump isn’t always the cause of constant clogging though. It just may be that your basin is really harsh. In order to prevent clogging, you need a pump with better debris protection.

In conclusion, a pump that is always clogged needs to be replaced.

6. Aging

We’ve talked quite a lot about the lifespan of sump pumps on this blog. Although we can’t give the precise number of years, we can talk about an estimate. Pedestal sump pumps can last up to 10 years, submersible ones last 3-5 years.

The average lifespan of a sump pump is not that relevant here though. Even durable models can get ‘old’ in just 2 years if the basin conditions are harsh. So, I guess ‘old’ also means ‘worn-out’ when we’re talking about sump pumps.

An old sump pump can be the cause of any on the signs above except constant clogging. It may be time to think about how old your pump is if more than one sign is present. Don’t wait for your pump to burn-out, replace it with a new one.

Don’t consider the average lifespan of sump pumps at first. I would focus more on the warranty. Manufacturers tend to provide warranty as long as they think the pump will work. Of course, many pumps work after the warranty expires.

Harsh basin conditions can ruin any pump. So, consider that next. It may be best to take out the whole pump and have a closer look at it. If your basin ruined even durable pumps after 2-3 years, consider a pedestal sump pump.

7. Battery backup pump is always working

Battery backup pumps usually come with a gadget for observation. Whenever the backup is turned on, you are notified. A primary that needs replacing will rarely be able to handle the water by itself. Most likely, the backup will turn on.

If your battery backup pump is regularly turned on but power outages have not occurred, you need a new primary. One of the signs will be present when you check on your pump.

Visit our sump pump reviews to find a pump that suits you.

Conclusion

I don’t like to give out fake hope. The presence of one of these signs most likely means replacing the pump. That isn’t always the case, so look for other issues, especially with constant clogging.

You can separate the signs into ones that are inevitable and ones that can be avoided. It’s better to replace an old, rusty pump than to replace a brand new one that’s badly sized. Remember, buy a new pump that won’t fail where the old one did.

These were 7 signs that you need to replace your sump pump. Here’s hope your pump is alright.