How long do sump pumps last on average? (2023)

How long does the average sump pump last?

Like other appliances and equipment in your home, your sump pump won't last forever. Averaging about 10 years, you might not notice your sump pump has malfunctioned until it has stopped working.

How Long Does a Sump Pump Last? Even if you have professionally installed a quality product, a sump pump should be replaced every 7-10 years. Typically located in a basin on your basement floor, your sump pump collects excess water from drains and redirects it away from the house.

So the trade off for the few dozen extra cycles on the switch of your main sump pump isn't worth the risk of flooding your basement (and most pump switches average 100,000 cycles anyway).

The average life span of a sump pump is between five and seven years, although some units last several decades. Certain pedestal pumps can even run for as long as 30 years.

Sump Pump Replacement Cost

Pedestal sump pump replacement costs range from $400 to $900, for an average cost of $650. Submersible sump pump replacement costs range from $800 to $2,000, for an average cost of $1,400.

According to HomeAdvisor, sump pump costs range from $641 to $2,035, with the national average at $1,296. A pedestal pump costs approximately $60 to $170, while a submersible pump costs between $100 and $400. Labor can run between $45 and $200 per hour for installation.

Pedestal sump pumps have a particularly long lifespan because the motor is held up on a pedestal above the water, while submersible sump pumps may last for less time because of the constant contact with water.

Routine sump pump maintenance is recommended every three to four months with a more comprehensive procedure annually.

If your sump pump is “rapid cycling”, i.e. turning on and off again quickly, your sump pump could see a much shorter lifespan than 10-15 years—especially if this problem isn't resolved. For most motors, starting up causes a lot more strain than running normally.

A sump pump should only run when it is needed. This could be a significant amount, and for various reasons. If you live in a very wet climate, then the water table may be higher than your basement floor, which means that the pump could run 2 or 3 times a day for a couple of minutes.

Is it normal for a sump pump to run every 3 minutes?

When the pump detects excess water it automatically turns on (it's activated by a float device). So, depending on the amount of water in the area, there may be times that it will run either continuously for a while or run every few minutes.

Frozen water blocks the discharge pipe, meaning that flowing water cannot pass through. Your pump will continue to work, trying to push the water past the frozen blockage and may burn out from the effort.

As a rule of thumb, batteries for your sump pump backup system should be replaced every 3-5 years.

Due to the nature of this helpful household appliance, sump pumps require regular cleaning to keep their systems functioning properly. We suggest annual sump pump cleaning, including removing and washing off the pump, clearing the check valve, removing water and debris from the pit, and more.

SUMP PUMP INSURANCE RIDER

Some homeowners assume that if their sump pump backs up, the damages will be covered under the “Sewer and Drain Back-ups” portion of their policy. But most sump pump failure is not covered under regular homeowners insurance policies unless you specifically add the appropriate rider.

While plumbers are the appropriate contractor to call for a plumbing leak, a proper and effective sump pump installation should be completed by a certified basement waterproofing specialist. Contact a local dealer today!

Replacing a sump pump may seem like a daunting task, but it is a fairly straightforward undertaking that can be tackled by a homeowner. Before installing the new pump, make sure you are installing a sump pump that is the appropriate size for your sump basin and has enough horsepower to keep your basement dry.

The most energy-efficient sump pumps use less than 0.5 horsepower. A ⅓ horsepower sump pump uses around 800-1050W while running and 13,000-4,100W to start up, whereas a 0.5-hp sump pump uses more than 1.5 times that amount just to start up.

A French drain will protect the whole of your basement, pulling water from every corner to preserve your belongings as well as the structural integrity of your home. That said, French drains aren't always as powerful as sump pumps.

If you live in an average-sized home with an above-average water table, you will most likely need a 1/2 HP sump pump. These pumps will generally pump about 35%-40% more than their 1/3 HP counterparts, and can also handle higher vertical lifts for water being pumped through your discharge pipe.

What is the most common reason for sump pump failure?

The most common mechanical failure in a sump pump occurs when the switch becomes stuck in the ON or OFF position, causing the pump to run continuously or not at all. Sump pumps can fail for a variety of reasons, including power outages, lack of maintenance, old age or improper installation.

Once a year, the sump pump and pit need maintenance.

Clean the grate, check the drainage pipes, clean the screen or inlet opening, put the pump back into the pit, and fill it with water to keep it from running dry.

Water from under or around your home drains into a sump pump pit, and is then pumped out of your home and away from the foundation. As with any other system or appliance you may have in your home, a sump pump needs regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly.

the pump itself should last you about 10 years, but this all depends on how often its pumping.

Installing a sump pump is certainly not an easy task and it can take 6 to 8 hours, based on how thick the basement floor is. First and foremost, you need to determine where is the water coming from, since these pumps treat the effect, not the cause.

Generally, sump pumps can run for six to 24 hours continuously, depending on how heavy the rainfall is and the quality of your pump. The aftermath of torrential rains or even flooding puts a higher demand on your sump pump to keep your home's low areas dry.

It is not normal for a sump pump to run constantly. If your sump pump runs every minute and you are not experiencing a large increase in the water table in your area, then this points to something being wrong with your pump.

An increase in groundwater is one of the most common reasons your sump pump may be running without rain. A broken pipe, nearby construction, or overflowing water sources can increase the amount of groundwater, which can then pool at the bottom of your home and turn your sump pump on.

What Causes a Sump Pump to Short Cycle? In most cases, short cycling is a symptom of a fault in your pump's float switch—a device which floats on the surface of the water in your sump basin and then turns your pump on when the water reaches a particular level.

Why is my sump pump going off every 5 minutes?

Just switching to a larger pump could solve the problem of your sump pump running every 5 minutes. An underperforming pump could also be caused by mechanical problems or by losing power just because it's old and worn out. Yet another cause of low pump power is using an extension cord that's too small for the pump.

While you might think you don't need your sump pump over the winter months, you shouldn't unplug it entirely. If a warm front comes through, snow melts and a rainstorm hits, you might end up with a wet basement all because you forgot to plug your sump pump back in. Clear out debris in your sump pump's pit.

It's perfectly normal for a sump pump pit to always have some water in it. This water can be the result of rain, snowmelt, or seepage from the ground. That being said, when the water rises to a certain level, this should trigger your sump pump's float switch. This will cause the pump to turn on and start working.

Low humming noises from a sump pump are often completely normal. However, if the pump begins humming louder than usual and/or is not pumping water, it's time to investigate. First, check the vent hole for a clog and clean it out if needed. If this doesn't help, you may have a stuck check valve.

Routine sump pump maintenance is recommended every three to four months with a more comprehensive procedure annually.

If your sump pump is “rapid cycling”, i.e. turning on and off again quickly, your sump pump could see a much shorter lifespan than 10-15 years—especially if this problem isn't resolved. For most motors, starting up causes a lot more strain than running normally.

As a rule of thumb, batteries for your sump pump backup system should be replaced every 3-5 years.

While plumbers are the appropriate contractor to call for a plumbing leak, a proper and effective sump pump installation should be completed by a certified basement waterproofing specialist. Contact a local dealer today!

Water from under or around your home drains into a sump pump pit, and is then pumped out of your home and away from the foundation. As with any other system or appliance you may have in your home, a sump pump needs regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly.

Should there be water in my sump pump pit?

It's perfectly normal for a sump pump pit to always have some water in it. This water can be the result of rain, snowmelt, or seepage from the ground. That being said, when the water rises to a certain level, this should trigger your sump pump's float switch. This will cause the pump to turn on and start working.

The most common mechanical failure in a sump pump occurs when the switch becomes stuck in the ON or OFF position, causing the pump to run continuously or not at all. Sump pumps can fail for a variety of reasons, including power outages, lack of maintenance, old age or improper installation.

Once a year, the sump pump and pit need maintenance.

Clean the grate, check the drainage pipes, clean the screen or inlet opening, put the pump back into the pit, and fill it with water to keep it from running dry.

Installation Of A Sump Pump And Pit

If you've decided that your property needs a pump and pit, a professional local plumber (like our team at Proximity Plumbing) can be used to properly inspect and install your pump and pit solution.

Pedestal sump pumps have a particularly long lifespan because the motor is held up on a pedestal above the water, while submersible sump pumps may last for less time because of the constant contact with water.

the pump itself should last you about 10 years, but this all depends on how often its pumping.

Run-time of a new fully-charged battery

As a general rule of thumb, during a power outage most new fully-charged batteries will last roughly 5-7 hours of continuous pumping and roughly 1-3 days of non-continuous pumping depending on the frequency.

When your home has a sump pump, you want it working to keep rainwater out of your basement or crawl space. If your sump pump is failing and you need to replace it, it's a DIY job you can handle yourself.