Flooding Archives - Always Plumbing & Heating

Do I Need a Sump Pump?

Depending on where you live, a sump pump might be one of the most integral parts of equipment in your house – but there’s also a chance you’ll never need one at all. Some of you think, ‘Of course! I’d never go more than a few months without checking my sump pump, it’s too important.’ Others, though, say, ‘What on earth is a sump pump?’ If you fall into the second category, there’s a good chance you don’t need one. Unfortunately, Edmonton lies in a relatively flat area, so flooding is a problem; a sump pump is likely already in your home. On the off-chance you don’t have one, though, the pros at Always Plumbing & Heating have provided some guidelines to give you an idea of what you’d need to experience at home to invest in one.

What is a Sump Pump?

A sump pump is pretty self-explanatory: it’s a pump that is installed in the lowest point of your house – usually the basement – and it pumps out any water, sump, that accumulates when there is flooding. Some are activated via a pressure sensor, and others are triggered by a flotation activator. A sump pump uses centrifugal force to create a low-pressure environment to suck water in and force it out through a pipe that dumps it away from your home. A check valve prevents the water from trickling back through the pipe, ensuring it only funnels away from the pump.

How do I know if I need one?

To determine if you need a sump pump or not, you’ll need to figure out if your house is prone to accumulating water. Obviously, if floods are an issue in the area, you will definitely need one – but if you’re situated in an area without that danger, there’s still a chance you could house excess moisture. If there isn’t any standing water, or if your basement is completely dry, you’re probably safe. However, if moisture is present, run a de-humidifier in the basement and check for moisture again a few weeks later. If it’s still present, go ahead and invest in a sump pump.

Types of Sump Pumps

Sump Pumps are divided into two categories: Pedestal and submersible units.

Pedestal sump pumps are installed above ground. They’re easier to install and perform maintenance on than submersible units are – and they’re cheaper! However, they can be affected by the water you’re trying to remove much easier than ones underground can.
Submersible sump pumps can be covered with a lid, effectively making them impenetrable. We’d recommend going with this type, if only because there is a reduced risk of them being rendered inoperable since they are secluded.

Whichever one you choose, purchasing a backup battery-powered sump pump is an excellent idea. In the event your primary unit fails, the backup will keep chugging along and provide a critical contingency plan to keep your basement water-free. You’ll also want to install an alarm on your sump pump that will alert you if it fails – so you can take action before the high water gets too much to handle.

Before flood season hits, give the experts at Always Plumbing & Heating a call at 780-489-8118 (Edmonton) or 587-601-1253 (Fort McMurray) to get your sump pumps upgraded or replaced, or have us come out and take care of every step of the installation process. Our highly qualified technicians are available 24/7 throughout the year to take care of you, and it comes with a 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee!

How to Handle a Burst Pipe (in Winter)

Northern Alberta is under an Extreme Cold Warning with wind chill values of -40 to -45 expected to persist into Saturday. This is frozen and burst pipe weather.

We’ve written about how to prevent and thaw frozen pipes, but what happens if it’s too late for that?

Hopefully you can thaw the frozen area or contact a licensed plumber before the pipe bursts and causes expensive property damage. If, however, you do notice a broken or burst pipe, here’s how to handle it.

Burst Pipe Signs

Here are some signs you have a leaking or burst pipe in your home:

Dripping sounds
Puddles of water
Water spots and damage to ceilings and walls
Lack of water pressure
Main water shut-off shows a leak

How to Handle a Burst Pipe

In the event of a burst pipe, be prepared to act fast.

In the event of a leaking, broken, or burst pipe, turn off the main water supply to prevent any further damage. While you can make a temporary repair while you wait for a plumber’s availability, the pipe will have to be replaced as soon as possible.

Turn Off Main Water Shut-Off

To be safe, if you notice a leaking, broken, or burst pipe, turn off the main water shut-off valve. In the event of an emergency, everyone in the household should know where the main water shut-off is located and how to turn it off.

Consult your property inspection report or professional plumber if you don’t know the location of the shut-off valve. Don’t wait until your pipes burst to start looking!

Turn the valve clockwise to turn it off. Keep in mind that you may have to turn the gate valve several turns to shut it off.

Turn Off Electricity If Necessary

If water has already entered your home and is in danger of contacting any electrical equipment, turn off power to that area of the home. Make sure you turn off the water first, then shut off power at the circuit breaker with dry hands and feet.

Contact a Plumber

As soon as you turn off the water supply to prevent any further damage, contact a professional plumber right away. Not all plumbing companies are 24/7, but if you live in the Edmonton or Fort McMurray area, Always Plumbing & Heating is always available.

The sooner you schedule professional plumbing service, the less expensive your costs will be. Your plumber will also help guide you to the right decision concerning the associated water damage. You may need to contact a water damage specialist for severe cases.

Remove as Much Water as You Can

In order to prevent moisture-related problems, such as mold and mildew, clean up as much of the water as you can. Use wet/dry shop vacuums, rags, mops, buckets, whatever you can. Run a dehumidifier if you have one.

Be on the lookout for early signs of frozen pipes, such as reduced water flow and freezing temperatures. Most plumbing ruptures can be prevented.

If you think a pipe may have burst in your Edmonton home, turn off the water supply and contact Always Plumbing and Heating at780-489-8118 (Edmonton) or 587-601-1253 (Fort McMurray).

We provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Winter Plumbing Tips

Sump Pump Maintenance Procedures and Tips

Why should we maintain ourSump Pumps?

Our sump pumps should work efficiently for us and be there for us when we need them. The very last thing we need to happen is for our submersible pump to let us down when we need it the most. If we take the time to look after our sump pumps with a little maintenance then they will be there and ready to work for us when we need them the most.

What maintenance is needed and how often?

The maintenance that should be needed in most cases should be carried out periodically. Typically on a quarterly basis; with special consideration to the wetter months of the year. Ensure we carry out our maintenance prior to then.

For many pumps the maintenance procedures are very similar as well as being relatively simple to carry out. A submersible pump should need around five to ten minutes of your time at most to complete the steps needed.

Sump pumps are generally maintenance free themselves but we will need to look into various things to ensure a long and worry free life with the pump.

A list of the items we need to look to properly maintain our sump pumps are

Screen Debris – Here we need to ensure we clean any screening we have to our pump inlet. This will ensure the pump is able to have full flow going to in as well as ensuring there is no further debris being able to get into the pump and damage it.

Hose Connections – Ensure they are tight and leak free. This will help to reduce any leaks being re-pumped and effectively being pumped around in circles.

Check Valves – Ensure they are both fitted and also working. A check valve is there to stop the water we have just pumped away from returning down the pumping line and filling our sump up again. To check this fill the sump and let the sump pump run. Once the pump shuts off there should not be any water returning down the pumping line to re-fill our sump

Installation – Ensure the sump pump is properly installed and is fixed into your sump so it is not moving around. This could cause further damage if left like this.

Pumping line– Ensure this is leak free and in some cases where necessary ensured the pumping hose/line is protected from the frost. If this line was to freeze then your pump will be rendered useless.

Float switch – Always ensure the float switch is working properly. Ensure you watch the pump both start and stop using the float switch. It is also worth ensuring there isn’t any debris or dirt on or around the float switch to impair the operation of it.

Pump Cleaning Wherever possible it would not harm the pump to fully remove it (using all required safety precautions) and give it a thorough clean down, removing all debris and dirt from all around the pump.

Impeller check – When you have the pump removed it is worth looking at the actual impeller if you can see it. In some cases there could be materials clogged around these or in extreme circumstances wound around the impeller. This will reduce the efficiency and operation of the sump pump. Remove any materials and ensure the impeller is free.

Noisy pump – In the circumstances where your pump has become noisy and you have completed all of the steps above and find your pump is still noisy – it might be the case that your bearings or motor is wearing, or it could be something as simple as needing a flexible hose connection to absorb the vibration being transmitted into the piping. If you are unable to fix the issues by the above steps then you should seek professional advice on how to fix any further issues with your sump pump.

Is your pump in need of attention?

Typical symptoms that your sump pump may need attention would be; noisy pump, not pumping the same volume of water, not switching on with the float, tripping the circuit regularly, overheating.

In the cases where your pump is not pumping the same amount of water, tripping the circuit or overheating you need to give your pump a good overhaul. This may be symptoms your pump or impeller could be blocked causing it to run at a slight temperature or even at a high current rating. In cases like this ensure you have checked all of the above and re tested. If the problems persist you may need to seek professional advice.

What if my Sump pump has stopped working?

A sump pump installed in a basement of a home with a water powered backup system.

If your sump pump has stopped working you may actually find it is the float switch that has malfunctioned. In most cases the float switch is the “moving part” and therefore more susceptible to malfunction. Dependent upon the construction of several models of sump pumps you may also be able to remove and replace the float switch rather than needing to replace the complete pump. It could be a matter of replacing the float switch to have your pump back into working order. If you are unable to do this yourself, then seek professional advice, however bear in mind once you need to pay a professional it could actually be cheaper for you to just get another sump pump.

It may also be a worthwhile expense to have a reserve sump pump or backup sump pump just in case your pump fails you at the worst possible moment. We have reviewed many of the best sump pumps and returned honest and open reviews for you to decide upon the best submersible pump to suit your needs and budget.

Always Plumbing & Heating provides great service 24/7 and our qualified technicians have been nationally certified to wear the Technician Seal of Safety.

Tag: Flooding