One thing that nobody likes dealing with is flooding in the basement. And in an area like Seattle where the rainfall is frequent, the potential for excessive moisture buildup is particularly high. If you have a home with a basement, you may want to consider investing in a sump pump. A sump pump has the important job of removing unwanted moisture from the lower area of the property and pumping it outside. At Gene Johnson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical, we’re always available to install a quality sump pump in your home.
You may be unsure whether or not you’re in need of a new sump pump for your house. If you don’t currently have one or your current pump is getting old, there’s a good chance you could benefit from purchasing a brand-new unit. Here, we’ll take a look at the telltale signs that you need a new sump pump.
#1 – Your Current Sump Pump Isn’t Turning On
If you’ve had your current sump pump for more than 10 years, it may start to have problems doing its job. For example, if it has rained a lot and you’ve noticed significant puddles forming outside, you should hear your sump pump start running at some point. If you never do, that most likely means it isn’t working properly. That said, you also shouldn’t hear it turning on and off while the rain is still coming down outside. If it’s doing that, that’s another indicator that the pump is malfunctioning.
It’s very common for sump pumps to start having issues when they’re over 10 years old. Typically, it isn’t wise to wait for much longer than that to invest in a new device. Not only will it be more reliable, but it will be more energy-efficient as well. At Gene Johnson, we’d be happy to replace your aging sump pump with a high-quality new unit.
#2 – Significant Moisture in Your Basement
Have you ever experienced flooding in your home’s basement? If you don’t have a sump pump and have had flooding issues at any time, you should seriously consider investing in one. In an area like Seattle, if you’ve had flooding problems before, there’s little reason to think they won’t happen again. And a sump pump’s primary purpose is to keep that water from accumulating where it shouldn’t. If you do have a sump pump and have noticed moisture buildup in your basement, that likely means the pump isn’t working properly. Depending on the age and condition of the pump, it may just need to be repaired. However, if it’s an older unit, replacing it with a new one is probably the more prudent choice.
#3 – You Live in a Rainy or Snowy Area
For people who live in Arizona or Nevada, having a sump pump probably isn’t necessary. Those areas receive very little precipitation throughout the year, which means the risk of flooding in the basement is very low. However, in an area like the Pacific Northwest, there tends to be quite a bit of rain during certain seasons. That means that the risk of moisture making its way into your basement is much higher, and if you don’t have a sump pump installed, there’s a good chance it’s going to linger there and accumulate. In reality, when you live in the Seattle area, it just isn’t wise to go without a dependable sump pump in your basement.
#4 – Mold or Mildew Growth
Even if you haven’t dealt with actual flooding in your basement, that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t benefit from a sump pump. While the amount of water may never seem to get out of hand, your basement may still have small puddles and general dampness. That can frequently lead to funguses like mold and mildew growing and flourishing, which can worsen the air quality and create nasty odors.
If you’ve encountered mold or mildew in your basement or noticed a stale, musty odor, then there’s probably more moisture down there than you realize. If you had a quality sump pump, it would be able to keep your basement dry and prevent nasty fungus from thriving.
Quality Plumbing Professionals
When you need reliable sump pump installation, replacement, or repair, you need not look any further than our team at Gene Johnson Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electrical. In addition to our sump pump services, we offer a wide variety of other quality plumbing services, including leak detection, burst pipe repair, drain cleaning, and many more. Contact us today if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
