Should I Replace My Sump Pump?

Do you know why your home has a sump pump?  Sump pumps ensure that any lower area in your Bloomington home, like a basement, stays dry when water seeps into it.  Just like any other pump, your sump pump should be replaced at certain times in order to ensure that it works when it’s needed. Sump pumps spend their entire life sitting in water, ensuring that at some point, they will fail.  Often, the problem homeowners discover is that they fail when they are needed most.

Replacing a sump pump is an easy home maintenance task to overlook or procrastinate.  It’s also difficult to answer the question of how often you should replace your sump pump.  The answer in part depends on how often your pump runs and the condition that it is currently.

How Often Should A Sump Pump Run

A sump pump should not run constantly, but rather on an as-needed basis. As the pump fills with water, the float switch within the system will rise as the water levels increase, eventually prompting the sump pump to turn on. If your sump pump is continuing to run the float switch could be damaged or stuck, and in some cases, it could indicate the need for a new system.

When To Replace A Sump Pump

  • If the system is running inconsistently or turning on and off
  • If the sump pump is obstructed or blocked by debris
  • If the system is abnormally noisy when running
  • If the sump pump won’t start at all
  • If the system has become visibly corroded or rusted

How Often Should I Replace My Sump Pump?

Your sump pump should be replaced every 7-10 years, more often if it runs on a continuous basis.  It’s also a good idea to inspect the sump, the float, and the switch on a yearly basis.  Our suggested rule of thumb is that if you don’t know how old your sump pump is, it should be replaced, or at the very least inspected by a professional plumber.

Believe us, it’s easier to replace a sump than it is to deal with a flooded basement.

Call Covenant Plumbing at to schedule your sump pump replacement in Bloomington today.

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