When you work with pumps and pipes, it’s very common to see water leaking out. There are a lot of reasons why this happens, especially in a sump pumps system.
There are joints, pipes, check valves, and you never know which one might go bad or create a leak. Is your sump pump spraying water? Well, have a look at our five common reasons for sump pump spraying water.
1. Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Leaking
Whenever you see a leak or sump pump spraying water, call a professional and tell them the problem. Most of it can be a quick DIY fix, and you don’t want to spend a lot of money and hire a professional to make a quick fix.If you see water leaking from the discharge pipe, then there is a crack in it. It’s a common problem and should be dealt with immediately. The first thing to do is look at the leak source.
If it’s a small leak, you can easily make a DIY repair. There are a bunch of methods out there, so pick the one that you find easier—the reason why discharge pipe leaks are because you have probably installed thinner pipes.
During the freeze and thaw cycles, the stress on 3-inch pipes is too much. It’s common to see failure in this season when there are a lot of snowmelt waters pouring inside.
If you have a winter climate, you should use a thicker discharge pipe to prevent any future leaks.
2. Sump Pump Weep Hole Spraying Water
The weep hole is there to prevent airlocks. You can also call it a relief hole that allows trapped air to escape. You will notice that almost all discharge pipe will have a hole in it.
Plumbers do this when installing a sump pump intentionally. Every time your pump kicks on, water will spray out of the hole. However, if you plan on drilling a weeping hole, don’t drill it horizontally.
Rather, if you want to prevent weep hole spraying water, drill the relief hole at a 45-degree angle. It will reduce water spraying while letting trapped air to escape. The sump pumps that are unable to prime itself needs this counter-intuitive method.
3. Sump Pump Check Valve Spraying Water
Why is my sump pump check valve leaking? This is a common question that I see in a lot of forums. It’s common for check valves to develop leaks over time. It can be either due to a failing internal valve or loose connections.
Most high-end sump pumps will have built-in check valves to prevent the backwash of pumped out sump water. It also prevents sewage water from getting back into the pump.
Some sump pumps have the check valve on top of the pump while on models, you will have to install an additional check valve between the pipes. If you notice that the internal components are failing, it’s better to replace the valve with a new one.
4. Sump Leaking At A Joint
If your sump pump is leaking at a joint, you will have to open the joints, reapply Teflon tape, and connect the parts back in.
Why do sumps leak at a joint? If the fittings and threaded pipes are not joint with Teflon pipe joint compound or Teflon tape, then they are prone to leaks.
Careful and expert plumbers will always take precautionary measures to prevent such leaks. However, every once in a while, you will come across loose fittings. Four or five wraps of Teflon tape should be enough to prevent sump leaking at a joint.
5. Sump Pump Water Coming Back In
Is water coming back in after being pumped out? 9 out of 10 reasons for this to happen is that you have a broken check valve. A check valve prevents water from getting back down into the pit.
If you don’t have it installed, and if your pump is not powerful enough, the pump will have a hard time keeping up the pressure for long enough to empty the pump completely.
If the pumped-out water gets flown back into the pit, it will trigger the pump-action and cause the motor to overheat. The pump has to work hard continuously until it burns itself out.