Why Does a Sump Pump Run All the Time?

How a Sump Pump Works

• Water makes its way into a sump pump via a drain tile. It can be made of clay or a perforated plastic pipe. The drain tile accumulates water around the house's foundation to drain it into the sump pit. Sump pits are usually 2 feet wide and can contain 15 to 25 gallons of water. The pump mechanism switches on when the water reaches a specific level, pumps the water to ground level and discharges in to a pipe leading away from the house, usually into a municipal storm drain.

Backup Power for a Sump Pump

• Sump pumps are useful during stormy weather. However, if there is an electricity failure as a result of that storm, it will knock your pump out of operation until power is restored. Homeowners in blackout-prone areas should prepare fully charged, battery-powered pumps as backup.

  As battery-powered pumps run down quickly, a homeowner who is often away should consider a water-powered system. Operating through suction, pressurized water "pulls" out water from the sump pit. It needs 40 psi of pressure and uses 1 gallon of public water to remove 2 gallons of sump water, thus is inadvisable for areas where water towers and wells are a water source.

Periodic Inspection Is Important

• Annual inspections and basic maintenance can prevent or anticipate sump pump failures. A solid cover over the sump pit is important to ensure debris do not clog the parts or tangle the float.

  Pumps may wear out with constant use, but infrequent use can also lead to mechanical atrophy. During a dry season, a homeowner can determine the pump's functionality by pouring water into the pit to see if it is pumped out. He or she should also ensure that the water being drained away actually discharges outside.

When a Sump Pump Operates Continually

• A pump doesn't operate continually unless the pit constantly fills because of a prolonged rain spell. A sump pump that won't switch off unless manipulated manually may be caused by a stuck float switch or debris clogging the armature around the switch.

  Float or switch failures can be due to the size of the pump itself. The minimum width of a sump pit is 18 inches and be 22 inches deep. A sump pit smaller than that is subject to more frequent pump cycles, and result in frequent-use failure.

Preventing Problems Right from the Start

• Sump pump systems should have a size appropriate to the house. Too large or too small a system will switch on and off too frequently and suffer mechanical failure sooner. Sump pumps with a 1/3 horsepower rating are suitable for most houses as their average lift ability is 25 feet and they have a flow capacity of 25 gallons per minute.

  The material of a sump pump can also prevent premature wear. Although it costs more, cast metal pump housing disperses heat better than one of plastic or thin metal.