Sump pumps in our houses are the first line of defense against flooding in the basement. A regularly maintained sump pump could still be faulty and if you don’t know exactly where to look, it could lead to a long and stressful day for you. However, you don’t need to worry! Today, we’ll go over the common problems to keep an eye out for when it comes to sump pumps for your home plumbing.

Unpleasant Smell

Every sump pump is equipped with a drain trap that stops sewage and gas from backing up into your house. During hot summer days, the water in the drain trap can evaporate, allowing all the smells from your sump pump to waft back up into your home. One way of addressing this issue is making sure that there is water in your drain trap and that it rests above the indicator line. Another option is to use a pipe-safe cleaning solution to disinfect the drain and kill any odor-causing bacteria. If you’re not sure what’s causing the smells from your pump, you can also call TN Plumbing for help with maintaining your sump pump!

Non-Stop Running

Regardless of the season, if your sump pump works continuously, the strain on the pump could cause a problem and your pump is likely to burn itself out. This could be because the pump that you have is not big enough to handle the task and has to compensate by running non-stop. Another thing that may cause your pump to run nonstop is a missing or broken check valve. This valve prevents water from coming back down as it travels up and out of your sump pit, making the pump overworked while trying to remove the water. If your pump runs continuously, call a technician from TN Plumbing Solutions to check it out and get it fixed!