Plumbing Tips

Prevent Sump Pump Disasters

In areas where basements are at risk of flooding or serious damp problems, sump pump installation can be essential. A sump pump is designed to reduce the chances of flooding, water damage, and problems with mold, mildew, damp, and musty odors caused by excess water getting into basements. Sump pumps are installed in sump pits, which are holes dug into the lowest part of a property. The pumps are only small but are often responsible for moving large volumes of groundwater or rain.

You may have a larger pump installed if your home is at serious risk of flooding, or a smaller one if the risk is lower. The pump may be a pedestal sump pump, where the motor is located above the water level, or a submersible sump pump, which is submerged under water.

Knowing how to identify and prevent problems with your sump pump is crucial. By understanding what can go wrong with the pump, you can ensure that it continues to function properly, and your basement doesn’t experience the problems that the pump is in place to prevent!

 Here are eight common sump pump disasters and how to prevent them: 

Disaster One: Power Lost to Sump Pump

When a sump pump loses power, flooding can be quick to follow, especially if the power outage occurs during a storm. Thankfully, this potential disaster is quite easy to prevent!

If you have a home backup generator, then the sump pump should continue working normally once the generator kicks in. If you don’t have a home backup generator and don’t want to install one, then you could install a battery backup sump pump or a water-powered backup sump pump.

Battery backup pumps are the most versatile of the two options, but if your home has the right plumbing system, water-powered backup pumps can last much longer, and you won’t need to monitor the battery.

Disaster Two: Electrical Sump Pump Failure

Power surges caused by problems like lightning storms and damage to utility poles, may result in your sump pump experiencing an electrical failure. If this occurs, then having a backup power source isn’t going to be enough to get the pump working again.

To prevent electrical failures caused by power surges, you can contact your local plumber and ask them to install a service entrance surge protection device.

Disaster Three: Sump Pump Runs Continuously

A sump pump running continuously may not sound like a disaster, but there’s a chance that pump will overheat and eventually burn out if there isn’t any water to cool the system down.

This problem is often the result of the float switch on the pump becoming jammed in the ‘on’ position, instead of lowering as the water does and turning the system off. To fix the problem and help to stop it happening again, simply free the switch and replace it if damaged. You can then attach it to the pump, making sure there are no obstructions.

If the float switch isn’t jammed, then the pump may have a defective check valve, the pump could be the incorrect size or in the wrong location, there could be a sewer leak beneath your basement, or your home could be higher than the water table line. If you’re unsure of the exact problem, it’s best to contact a plumber, who’ll be able to inspect the check valve and assess the pump.

Disaster Four: Drain Pipe Clogging

If your sump pump is no longer removing water effectively, then dirt or debris may be blocking the drain pipe. The blockage should be fairly easy to remove using a plumber’s snake and a high-powered hose pipe. Once the drain pipe is clear, you can reduce the chances of clogging by installing a grate.

Disaster Five: Sump Pump Overwhelmed & Requires Replacement

An overwhelmed sump pump is a serious flood risk! To prevent flooding in your basement, you may require a replacement pump that has enough power to keep up with the volume of water coming in. If you’re concerned that your sump pump is overwhelmed, a plumber will be able to design a suitable system for your home that can handle typical water volumes for your area.

Disaster Six: Improper Sump Pump Maintenance

The best way to prevent the many disasters that can arise from a poorly maintained sump pump is to stay on top of pump maintenance or call in an expert to inspect the system every year.

Inspecting the pump for signs of abnormalities, damage, and debris, and testing the system regularly to make sure that everything is working, are simple ways to prevent maintenance problems. Installing a backup pump and a high water alarm will also help to keep you informed of problems.

Disaster Seven: Too Much Water in Sump Pump, Causing Basement Flooding

If your basement is being flooded because there’s too much water in the sump pump, then the chances are, you either live in an area with a high water table or your home is on top of a spring. In these instances, there are two common solutions: call a plumber to install a second pump or raise the existing sump pit.

Disaster Eight: No Water in Sump Pit

The common cause of a lack of water in a sump pit is a fault with the drain tile. The drainage system channels water into the sump pit, so if no water is in the pit, there may be a clog in the system, or it may not have been installed properly. An effective way to fix and prevent this problem is to make sure the system is installed correctly and is in good working order.

Arco Plumbing Solves Sump Pump Problems

If you’re ever in doubt about the health of your sump pump and whether it’s working properly, it’s important to contact Arco Plumbing as soon as possible. Problems with sump pumps can spell disaster for your basement and the rest of your home, so never delay in calling for help if you think that there’s a problem or a way to improve the system!

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Professional Plumber in Chicagoland

There comes a time for many homeowners when the services of a professional plumber are essential. You may need a sink unclogging, a leak repaired, or a full basement rough-in – no matter the reason you need a plumber, it’s always handy in these situations to have a good relationship with a local service!

So, how can you tell whether a plumber is the best fit for a job? Just like when you hire any contractor, there are some important questions to ask before you make a decision over which plumbing company is right for your needs.

Here are eight tips and questions to ask, before you hire a plumber in Chicago for your plumbing job:

1. Do They Provide Services for Commercial and/or Residential Plumbing in Chicagoland?

The first thing that you need to know is whether the company offers the services you need. There’s no point in hiring a commercial plumber in Chicago, if you need a residential plumber, or vice versa. Some plumbing companies will offer both commercial and residential plumbing services, but others may only offer one service or the other, so it’s worth asking in advance to make sure that you hire the right type of plumbing company!

2. Make Sure You’re Protected! What Guarantees and Warranties Do They Provide?

You’ll find that not every plumber offers the same guarantees or warranties on their work. If something goes wrong after the work is completed, some plumbers will agree to return and fix the problem within a set timeframe, while others may have more exacting conditions on what they will/won’t replace or repair. Before you hire a plumber, you should ask them what guarantees and warranties they provide and make sure that you get them in writing before work begins.

3. What’s the Cost of the Job – Do They Offer Free Home Estimates?

Does the company provide free estimates? Will you get a quote over the phone? Are estimates provided after a home inspection? It’s important to have a clear understanding of the cost of a project before work gets underway – and when payment will be due after work is completed! In most situations, your plumber should be able to give you a clear estimate of the cost of the project after having a look at the work that needs doing.

4. Check How the Payments Work! Do They Offer Fixed/Flat Rates or Hourly Rates?

Another essential payment-related question is whether the plumber offers fixed rates or hourly rates. If the payment is a fixed rate, then you know that the price won’t change, but an hourly rate can be very unpredictable, especially if the job doesn’t go to plan. Knowing whether you’ll be paying a set fee or are going to be charged by the hour for work will help you to plan ahead for expenses. If you don’t want to pay an hourly rate, then check the contract to make sure there are no clauses stating that you’ll need to pay reasonable costs.

5. Are They A Reputable Company? Check Plumbing Service Reviews!

A great way to get a better understanding of a plumbing company and their reputability, is to check online reviews and ratings. There are many review sources online, including BBB reviews (Better Business Bureau), which help to build trust between businesses and customers. Through BBB, you can search for businesses in your local area, check what rating they have (F to A+), see whether they’re a BBB accredited business, and even look at reviews and complaints.

6. Know Your Local Plumber! Who Will Be Doing the Work?

It’s always better to know in advance who’ll be completing your plumbing job: will it be the person who gave you your estimate, or will it be someone else? Some plumbing companies have multiple plumbers on staff or hire subcontractors; some plumbing companies have just a single plumber. Ask who’ll be completing the job, and about their qualifications, training, and experience – the company should be happy to share the skills of their plumbers!

7. Are They Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?

Making sure that the company you choose is licensed, bonded, and insured is one of the most important things to do before you hire a plumber in Chicagoland. Plumbers in Illinois require a license to work, so it’s essential to make sure that they have one! Insurance and bonding is protection for both you and the company: insurance means the company is covered in the event of an accident, and bonding means that there’s money available to cover the cost of any claim filed by a customer – protecting you against unsuitable business practices and poor workmanship.

8. Plumbing Experience Matters! How Long Have They Been in Business?

No matter the type of contractor that you need to hire, experience should always be an important factor in the decision-making process. An experienced plumbing company should be able to identify and repair most common problems very quickly and they’ll have a better understanding of how to manage situations that are out of the ordinary. Most businesses share their experience on their websites, and you’ll also be able to find how long they’ve been in business on BBB, or simply by asking them directly!

Contact Arco Plumbing

If you’re looking to hire a plumber in Chicagoland, then the team at Arco Plumbing are happy to answer your questions!

Arco Plumbing is a residential and commercial plumbing service that’s based in Westmont, IL and serves the Chicagoland area. Our company was founded more than four decades ago, in 1978, and since 1985, we’ve been proud to be an A+ BBB rated business.

We’re licensed, bonded, and insured, and offer fixed rate payments on all our plumbing services in Chicagoland. You can get in touch with us today for a free home estimate on your plumbing job in Chicagoland or advice on your plumbing problem or project. Whether you need general plumbing services or emergency services, we have you covered!