If you notice that your sump pump seems to be constantly running during the spring rainfall, it’s usually responding to an excess of water in your basement or crawl space. Spring can bring along with it some heavy rainfalls alongside melting snow that can overwhelm your drainage system. While your sump pump is designed to remove water, continuous operation may also indicate that your system is working harder than necessary. In some cases, this may require professional assistance from Stang Plumbing.
Normal Sump Pump Operation
Your sump pump gets installed in a pit located in your basement or crawl space. Since it’s at the lowest point, it collects all the excess water from that space. Your pump works to safely pump that water away from your home and discharges it in a safe location. Your sump pump is triggered to turn on via a float switch or pressure sensor.
This detects when water levels rise to a set threshold level. Your pump will kick on and actively remove water until the water level recedes below the set threshold. Your sump pump will turn on and off periodically, running only long enough to keep the water at a safe level. If you have a heavy rainfall event, it’s pretty common for your sump pump to run several short cycles as it removes water and fills back up.
Why Does Spring Rainfall Trigger Constant Operation?
Spring is the busiest season for your sump pump. There are several different factors that contribute to it constantly running to keep your basement or crawl space free of flooding waters that could otherwise lead to mold growth. Heavy rainfall from spring storms can saturate the soil around your foundation. This can cause water to flow into your basement or crawl space faster. There’s typically residual snow and ice from the winter season that is now melting due to the rainfall. This can add additional strain that will infiltrate your drainage system.
If you live at a location with a high water table, spring thaws can raise it even higher. This increases the frequency and duration of your sump pump operation. It’s important to note that while your sump pump will operate more frequently during the spring season, there are some indicators of a problem.
Potential Sump Pump Problems
It’s always important to monitor how long and how frequently your sump pump is running. If it’s continually operating beyond several hours, it indicates an underlying problem. There are several different issues that your pump may experience during these heavy rainfall events of the spring.
One of the most common is a malfunctioning float switch. Sometimes the float switch can get stuck or be set at an incorrect threshold. This can cause your pump to run continuously even if the water levels are lower than what’s necessary. Another reason your pump may be running more often is that it is simply nearing the end of its lifespan, or it’s undersized for the capacity of heavy spring runoff. If you have a larger basement or high water inflow, your sump pump may need to be bigger to accommodate that water flow.
Sometimes, the reason your sump pump may continually run is that it has a clog in its discharge pipe. It can actively pump water up, but it won’t move out of the pit because of the blockage in the line. Your sump pump could have a faulty check valve that’s allowing water to flow back in. The check valve is responsible for ensuring water moves up out of the pit and outside your home. If the check valve malfunctions, it will allow water to naturally gravitate back into the pump.
Calling a Professional Plumber
If you notice that your sump pump is continuously running without removing enough water from your basement or crawl space, it’s time to call a professional. You never want to keep running your sump pump when it has a major issue, as doing so could lead to pump burnout and your basement or crawl space being flooded. This could lead to long-term damage to your foundation, belongings, and even unwanted toxic mold growth.
Expert Sump Pump Service
Stang Plumbing provides expert sump pump services to Gaithersburg, MD and the surrounding towns. We can also assist with all your emergency plumbing repair, installation, replacement, and inspection needs.
Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced plumbing professionals.
