Sump pumps are important parts of many homes in Illinois: they protect the basement, crawlspace, or subfloor of a house from the damages of flooding. In case of heavy rain or a plumbing accident that sends water cascading down into the lowest parts of house, a sump pump will effectively remove that water and send it into the drainage system. If your home has suffered from water damage previously, give serious consideration to have installation of a sump pump.

I already have a sump pump—and it’s not working!

Considering the amount of work that sump pumps must perform, they can occasionally suffer from mechanical breakdowns that will require they either have repairs or receive a complete replacement. Below are some of the reasons that you may need to call professionals to look over your sump pump and see what it needs to be restored.

• The pump is flooded: A pump that is too small (insufficient horsepower) for the job it needs to do will become flooded and stop working. The pump will need a replacement with a properly sized unit. Make sure that you always have professionals install a pump to avoid this problem in the future.
• Clogged discharge line: The discharge line is the pipe the leads away from the pump and connects to the wastewater system. Dirt can clog it up, or the pipe might freeze, and the sump pump will start sending water out into the sump until it is cleared.
• Age: Like any mechanical device, a sump pump will wear down with time and use. Maintenance on a regular basis (part of annual plumbing maintenance) will help keep a sump pump working for as long as possible. But if a pump is over 10 years old, it will have a much higher likelihood of breaking down.

Lifeline Plumbing, Inc. offers plumbing services in East Dundee, IL, including installation and repairs for sump pumps.