Tuesday, Jun. 11th 2019

Water Damage, Sump Pump Failure And Basement Flooding

Water damage to Kansas City homes and businesses is a frequent problem with all the rain in the area recently. Restoration teams are staying busy responding to all kinds of flooding emergencies. In particular, flooded basements caused by sump pump failures. AAS-Restoration-Water-Damage-Flooding-Sump-Pump-Failure

Basement flooding is the most common reason for water damage in Kansas City homes when in most cases, it could easily have been prevented. Understandably, most homeowners don’t think about whether or not the sump pump is doing its job. It’s just one of those things most of us tend to take for granted.

However, the sump pump actually has an important function in your home. A sump pump removes water from beneath your home’s foundation and channels it away from the foundation walls, even when it isn’t raining. When the sump pump fails it floods the basement causing water damage.

Types of Sump Pumps

Primary Sump Pumps – Standard in most homes, submersible pumps and pedestal pumps can pump up to several thousand gallons of water an hour. Submersible pumps are placed underwater in the sump pump well, while pedestal pumps are positioned with the pump motor above the sump well, out of the water. A pedestal pump is the best type for small basins.
Battery Back Up Sump Pump – A designated “battery back-up” system is used in the event of a power outage or if the main pump fails for any reason.
Combination Sump Pump – A primary pump and a battery backup pump combined. Under normal circumstances and in power outages, combination sump pumps protect against flooding. The backup pump will kick on if the primary pump can’t keep up with the water as it enters the well.

Sump Pump Failure – Causes and Solutions

If the sump pump fails during a big rain event, the basement can flood causing extensive water damage to your property, in addition to creating a huge mess. The most common cause of sump pump failure is a power outage. With all the severe thunderstorms that Kansas City has endured in recent weeks, losing power is not an unexpected occurrence.

Power Outage: Most sump pumps operate on an independent circuit and are not usually affected by a tripped breaker. However, a power outage will cause the sump pump to malfunction, leading to a flooded basement.
- Solution: One of the best things you can do is to get the right sump pump for your home to protect it before problems occur. A battery operated pump is one option. It will turn on automatically if the power goes out, keeping the sump pump running.
Overwhelmed Pump: A sump pump can become overwhelmed and fail to keep up with the volume of water that enters the well. For instance, in a flood-prone area or after several days of heavy rain, the sump well can fill with water faster than the pump can remove it.
- Solution: Install dual sump pumps, one above the other. The second pump won’t be used unless the primary pump fails. Or replace the pump with a more powerful one that can keep up with the demand.
Discharge Location: Basement flooding and subsequent water damage in Kansas City can occur when the location of the sump discharge is too close to the home’s foundation. Water seepage into the drains and walls can occur when the drain is not properly located.
- Solution: Divert to a runoff area at least 10 feet away from your property, preferably on a downhill slope.
Sump Pump Maintenance: A sump pump that is not maintained can develop issues that will cause it to fail. The float might have a lot of corrosion, or could be hung up on the pump cord inside the pump well.
- Solution: Periodic maintenance will prevent many issues. Also, mesh guards placed over outside drains keep them free of debris which can restrict the discharge of water.
Overloaded Electrical Circuit: Other heavy-duty appliances, such as washers, refrigerators or air conditioners that are using the same circuits as the sump pump, can overload the circuits. If the pump remains without power for an extended period of time it can cause the basement to flood.
- Solution: Dedicate a circuit exclusively to the sump pump on your breaker panel.

Other Issues & Fixes

If you have a battery backup system, check it once a month and before expected storms. Replace the battery every couple of years.
Make sure the float operation in the battery-operated pump is working properly.
Install a water alarm on the floor near the pump well. If it comes into contact with water an alert will sound, giving you time to get things back in working order.
Make sure the sump well is covered tightly to prevent accidental injuries. It will also keep out dead insects and prevent debris from falling in and holding down the float.
A tight-fitting cover for your sump pump also helps keep radon gas out.

What To Do When Your Sump Pump Fails

If your sump pump has stopped working, call AAS Restoration in Kansas City as soon as possible in order to prevent water damage. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse and much more expensive to repair.

AAS Restoration and Roofing Water Damage Restoration

We have been serving Missouri and Kansas homeowners for more than 30 years. Over the years we have helped many homeowners whose property sustained water damage from flooding because the sump pump stopped working. We install catch basins, sump pumps, and drain lines. When water damage occurs, we restore inner walls and repair the foundations, if required. A qualified water damage restoration specialist will respond immediately and conduct a state-of-the-art inspection, providing you with an honest, fair assessment. We guarantee exceptional high-quality work on your property, inside and out, from start-to-finish.

Our restoration specialists will travel to you anywhere within a 100-mile radius of Kansas City!