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Sump Pump Alarm Going Off? Here’s What to Do

What Does It Mean When Your Sump Pump Alarm Goes Off?

A sump pump alarm is triggered when the sensor—which is located a certain distance below the lid—becomes wet. So, if your sump pump alarm is going off, it means that water has somehow reached that sensor. There are a number of possible reasons why this could happen. For example:

• There could be a leak in the area around your sump pump that’s causing the sensor to get wet, even though the pump is functioning as intended.
• Your sump pump might not be powered on, even if it’s otherwise in working order.
• If you’re in the middle of a particularly severe storm, your sump pump could be operating as well as possible but simply not equipped to handle this much water at one time.
• Your sump pump might not be working due to old age or a mechanical error.

What Should You Do Next?

Your plan of action will depend on what’s causing your sump pump alarm to go off. First, take a look around to determine whether there are any nearby leaks that could be causing water to get on the alarm sensor. If it appears that a leak is causing the problem, dry off the sensor and take whatever steps are necessary to repair the leak (this may require calling a professional, depending on the severity of the leak). It’s important to fix the leak anyways, since an unaddressed leak could cause significant damage to your home and your possessions.

If there doesn’t appear to be a leak in the vicinity around your sump pump, check to see whether the pump is powered on. If the electricity is on in your neighborhood and you can’t hear the pump running, unplug it and plug another small appliance into the same outlet. If you can’t turn that appliance on either, you’ll know that the outlet is likely the problem. Try resetting the breaker a few times. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to call an electrician and request service. Although it’s generally advisable to plug your sump pump into the closest outlet, rather than using an extension cord, you can use an extension cord and plug the pump into another outlet until the power issue is resolved.

If you’re able to turn the other appliance on, chances are good that the problem lies in the sump pump itself. Make sure that the discharge line isn’t clogged by leaves or other debris. If it’s not, it may be time to call a repairman or invest in a new sump pump.