Why Is Your Sump Pump Working but Not Draining?

Your sump pump is crucial to preventing flooding in your basement or crawl space. When functioning correctly, your sump pump should pump water away from your below-ground floors. However, it is not uncommon to see a sump pump working but not draining water.

If this situation applies to your sump pump, there’s no need to worry. Getting your sump pump to drain is usually a relatively straightforward fix once you’ve identified the exact issue. If your sump pump is in worse shape than a one-time fix will resolve, seek out professional  sump pump services in Winnipeg from King’s Services.

Continue reading to find out why your sump pump is failing to drain and how you can resolve this issue.

How to Check If Your Sump Pump Is Draining

Before making any repairs, first check whether or not your sump pump is pumping. To do so, fill the basin of the sump pump with a few gallons of water to activate the motor. If you can hear the motor running but the water level in the pit does not lower, your sump pump is not properly draining.

Reasons Why Your Sump Pump Isn’t Draining

It’s undoubtedly frustrating to see your sump pump working but not draining water. For various reasons, your sump pump may not be successfully pumping water away from your floors.

The most common culprit preventing water from flowing is a clogged pipe. However, other frequent causes are as follows:

Clogged Discharge Lines or Inlet

Air holes in the discharge lines provide an open space through which dirt and debris may enter. When dirt and debris find their way into your sump pump’s discharge lines, it obstructs the water flow and prevents the sump pit from emptying. If your discharge lines are clear of dirt and debris, the inlet may still have a clog , preventing water flowing to the discharge lines.

These clogs are fairly standard as your sump pump will pick up dirt and debris over time.

Dirty or Damaged Impeller

The impeller acts as a propeller for your sump pump, rotating at high speed to increase pressure and the flow rate of the pumping water. Sludge and dirt may build up over time and cause the impeller to jam. If this situation occurs, or if the impeller incurs damage or falls off, your sump pump will be unable to drain water.

Burned Out Motor

Overworked pumps may result in a burned-out motor. Too many gallons of water for your sump pump to handle can cause a draining problem. Conversely, when there is not enough water for the pump’s powerful motor, draining problems may occur.

Make sure that your sump pump isn’t running nonstop. In addition, verify that you have the correct amount of water flowing through it.

Broken Check Valve

Your sump pump’s check valve, usually located on the discharge line, keeps water from flowing back into the pool once it exits. If water flows back, the impeller will spin in the wrong direction. As a result, your sump pump will fail to drain the water.

Ice Blockage

Your sump pump may pick up ice from the frozen pit water in the cold of winter. The discharge lines or inlet may freeze, causing ice to clog the lines. As a result, your sump pump will no longer drain water.

Even if there is no ice in the sump pit, the discharge lines can still freeze. Ensure that your lines are isolated or placed on a slope to prevent ice from clogging them.

Identifying and Solving the Problem

At this point, you know some of the main reasons your sump pump is working but not draining any water. Now, it’s time to pinpoint which cause applies to your sump pump and solve the issue.

Before you examine your sump pump for any problems, make sure to unplug it so that it’s safe to check.

Check the Discharge Lines and Inlet for Clogging

To start, check for any debris blockage near the end of the discharge line. If you find a clog, you can usually put on a rubber glove and manually remove the debris. However, you may need a long and thin object to remove more significant blockage.

If the end of the discharge line is clear, move on to the inlet line.

To inspect the inlet line, you’ll first have to remove your sump pump. Then, check the inlet line for blockage. If you see no debris but notice ice clogging the lines, unfreeze the ice by pouring in hot water.

Inspect the Impeller

To inspect the impeller for damage or dirt, first remove the sump pump from the sump pit. Check to see if your impeller is dirty and clean it if necessary. If the impeller is clean, check if it has fallen off or incurred any damages.

If your impeller has fallen off, you can simply put it back on. However, a damaged impeller will require professional repair or replacement.

Inspecting the Valve Check

If you have an older sump pump or your sump pump was not installed properly, you may be missing a valve check. You can find a valve check on top of your sump pump or at the beginning of the discharge line. If you see it, verify that your valve check is intact and working correctly.

Professional Sump Pump Services in Winnipeg

It can be frustrating to see your sump pump working but not draining water. Hopefully, this guide will help you identify and fix the problem. Most issues like clogs can be solved simply by hand or by  using a plumbing snake.

You may require professional assistance if you come across sump pump issues other than failure to drain. The skilled experts at King’s Services in Winnipeg are happy to help with any sump pump problems. We have the skills and equipment to make sure your sump pump is running efficiently.

Contact King's Services today at 204-815-5878 for quality and affordable sump pump services!