Is it normal for sump pump to run in winter?
While sump pumps do not run as often in the winter months as they do the rest of the year, there is a chance that melted snow or ice may necessitate its function. If it does kick in to remove excess water, even in the wintertime, you want to make sure it does so without failing.
Is Drano safe for sump pumps?
Products such as Drano and Liquid-Plumr are strong enough to break up clogs such as hair, food and grease. In some cases they do work, however, not all chemical drain cleaners are safe for pipes. Because of the chemicals found in these products, you could potentially cause irreparable damage to your pipes.
Can sump pump pipes freeze?
If the water can’t flow throughout your house, it’s more likely that any water inside your sump pump will freeze. If there is any frozen water inside your sump pump, it can cause the sump pump to buckle under the pressure and cease working.
What to do if your sump pump line freezes?
At Basement Systems, we’ve come up with a simple, common-sense solution for freezing sump pump discharge lines: the IceGuard® System. IceGuard® is a plastic, grated drain opening that’s installed on the outside of your home, at the base of your discharge line.
When to remove Flexible sump pump discharge line?
Often times the sump pump is hard piped from the sump pump to the outside of the house. Once the pipe is outside however it is often then attached to flexible sump pump discharge tubing. This flexible discharge line should be removed in the fall so that it doesn’t freeze up.
What can cause a sump pump to fail?
When a sump pump system is improperly designed, it becomes vulnerable to clogs in the system, including clogs related to frozen discharge lines. As a discharge line begins to clog, a sump pump system will be forced to work harder to keep up, leading to overheating and sometimes pump failure.
Where does the water come out of the sump pump?
The system discharges outside through a sump pump discharge pipe, and I quickly tired of looking at that ugly black extension hose sticking out the side of my house. I decided to bury a pipe to carry the water out near a rock garden about 20 ft. from the house.
How do you unfreeze a sump pump?
Clean out the water in the sump pit, and detach the discharge line from the sump pump. You will try to unfreeze the line with boiling water. Boil a large amount of water, and pour it into the disconnected discharge line. You can repeat this process until the discharge line is clear.
What does a frozen sump pump discharge line mean?
Because the pumps run year round that creates issues when the temps are below freezing. If your sump pump seems to be running continuously it could mean one of two things: either your back flow check valve is failing or your discharge line is frozen.
What happens when water in sump pit freezes?
When you have frozen water in your sump pit, the sump pump will suck frozen water that can clog the lines and overwork the sump pump. It’s best to get rid of that excess water in your sump pit.
How do you empty a sump pump pit?
Empty any remaining water from the sump pump pit. If you have a small, submersible pump, use it to discharge the water from the sump pit. You can also use a wet/dry vacuum to empty the pit. If necessary, use a cup and bucket to physically bail out the water.
