Your home’s sump pump is an appliance that you rely on heavily without really noticing it. Sump pumps are often located in your home’s basement, the lowest level of your home, or in the crawlspace. While they may seem like a mysterious motor in a pit, they are your home’s last line of defense to protect it from flooding. If you’ve just moved into a home, or maybe have lived in your home for a while, but haven’t paid much attention to your sump pump, the Douglas Cooling & Heating at Douglas Cooling & Heating share the common signs it’s time to replace your sump pump as well as long you can typically expect a sump pump to last.

How Does a Sump Pump Work?

A sump pump sits in a pit in the lowest portion of a building. When it rains, the water will saturate the soil outside your house and can accumulate under the foundation. The sump basin is dug below the foundation and collects water. When the basin collects enough water, the float switch lifts and the pump activates. The pump starts, lifts the water out of the basin and through a discharge pipe, and away from your foundation. When the heavy rains stop, the float switch lowers and the pump stops.

Sump pumps rely on electrical power to operate. However, many storms that bring rain also bring wind and lighting which can cause a power outage. If your home is prone to frequent power outages along with heavy rain, you can have a battery backup added to your sump pump. When the power goes out, the backup power will kick on and keep removing water away from your home.

How Long Do Sump Pumps Last?

Now that you know how valuable a sump pump is towards the safety of your home, you probably are concerned if yours is working properly. The good news is that on average, a sump pump lasts 7-10 years. Some sump pumps may last longer, depending on how well they were installed and maintained. It’s always a good idea to test your sump pump and to have maintenance done once a year. It would be a shame if you suffer from a flooded basement before you have an opportunity to replace your sump pump.

New homeowners especially can learn a lot about the condition of their sump pump by having it inspected shortly after moving into their new home.

Common Sump Pump Failure Signs

Regardless of the age of your sump pump, there are some signs it’s time to replace it. If you’ve noticed issues lately, start keeping a log to monitor when the sump pump turns on and how long it runs.

Running Constantly

Sump pumps should only run when there’s water accumulating in the sump pit. If you find that it’s a sunny day, but your sump pump is running, there is likely something wrong with it. This could be caused by an issue with the float arm mechanism or float switch issues, or that the sump pump shifted in the basin and is making the float arm unresponsive.

Not Turning On At All

If it’s raining out, listen for your sump pump to kick on. When you noticed that it hasn’t kicked on after a while, you might want to check it. If it has power and there is water in the basin, but the pump is not kicking on, this is likely because of a motor failure. This can be caused by several factors, but it’s important that you call a plumber for a sump pump replacement right away to prevent water from flooding your basement or crawl space.

Making Strange Noises

Acclimate yourself to the regular noises your pump makes. When running, your sump pump will probably make a low humming noise. If you hear rattling, squealing, or grinding noises instead, this could be your sump pump trying to tell you something. Noises are often signs of failing components and you should call for sump pump repairs soon.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for Sump Pump Services

Don’t risk your home to expensive water damage. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to provide quality repairs or maintenance to your sump pump system. If we find that you need a new sump pump, we can install a new one for you too. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for reliable sump pump services in Montgomery, Alabama today.

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Plumbing leaks can be hidden throughout your home and you probably wouldn’t realize it until you get hit with an unusually high water bill. Spikes in your water bill without a change in your water usage are often the first indication homeowners have a hidden leak, but where could it be? The Douglas Cooling & Heating at Douglas Cooling & Heating discuss how you can tell if your pipes are leaking under your floor. If you find a leak, call Douglas Cooling & Heating right away for comprehensive plumbing repairs.

Signs of Leaking Pipes

Pipes are all over your house. Within your walls, floors, and even in your yard. Water damage can become extensive quickly and can be expensive to fix, so if you have a leak, finding it is of the utmost importance. Water leaks also waste hundreds of gallons of water. Fixing these leaks fast can help save you money and help the planet.

Since pipes aren’t in plain sight, it’s hard to tell where a leak is often coming from. Let’s go through some common places where you may find leaks in your home and how to test for them.

Watch Your Water Meter

Turn off all the water running appliances in your home and locate your water meter. It is usually located outside of your home on the side of your house, or in a pit in your yard. With all the appliances off, your water meter should show that you are not consuming any water. However, if it is moving and all your appliances and sinks are off, then you have a leaky pipe or appliance somewhere in your home.

Test Appliances and Toilets

A common culprit of a hidden water leak in your toilet. Conduct the dye test on your toilets. Put some food color in the tank of your toilet and see if the dye moves into the toilet bowl. Check also for wetness around the base of the toilet to see if the porcelain has developed invisible leaks.

Run your appliances and inspect the base of the appliances for wet floors or puddles. Listen for any dripping water when you run appliances as well to clue you into other leaks.

Look at the Pipes You Can See

Look in your kitchen and bathroom cabinets to see if the plumbing pipes to the sinks are leaking. If your cabinets are full of items, you may need to take the items out to see if they are wet.

Damage To Your Floor, Walls, or Ceilings

Warped floors, peeling wallpaper, and water spots on the ceiling are signs that you have a leaky pipe somewhere. Unexpected wet carpets or pools of water on your floor are big signs there is a leak under your floor. If parts of your floor seem unusually hot, mark the section of the floor with tape and see if the heat persists the next day as well. This could be another sign of a slow leak. Keep your eyes peeled for bowing or separating walls, doors and windows that won’t close fully as these can be signs of water damage.

Outdoor Leaks

Not only could there be leaks underneath your home’s foundation and floors, but there could also be leaks in your yard. If you have spots in your lawn that are unusually lush, your sewer line could be leaking under your grass. Sewer lines often run from your house to the street through your front yard and your sewer line may also be under concrete features like driveways and sidewalks. Douglas Cooling & Heating can inspect your sewer line and clear it of any clogs to prevent it from developing leaks.

Strange Odors

Another big sign of a leaking pipe within your home’s walls or floors is unusual odors. If you notice a musty smell in your home it is often caused by mold or mildew growth. Mold and mildew love damp conditions like those created by a leaky pipe. Mold and mildew can grow just about anywhere; within walls, under carpets, within cabinets, and within openings for doors and windows.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating For Plumbing Repairs

Douglas Cooling & Heating offers a variety of plumbing repairs throughout your home. Whether you need small leaks taken care of, or you have a pipe burst, call the Douglas Cooling & Heating in Birmingham, AL to fix your plumbing issues quickly. Schedule an appointment with Douglas Cooling & Heating today.

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