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Ways To Get Rid Of Iron Bacteria (Iron Ochre) In Your Sump Pump

What Causes Bacteria in Sump Pumps?

It’s important to keep your sump pump in excellent condition to avoid water damage in your basement or crawl space. However, various factors can lead to a sump pump malfunction, including:

Iron bacteria often coexist with mud and gravel in your sump pit. If you do not clean the sump pump and pit regularly, debris buildup can potentially lead to excessive bacterial growth.

If your foundation has a faulty waterproofing system, bacteria can potentially thrive in your sump pump due to the high moisture content.

If water containing iron bacteria floods into your home’s basement, it contaminates your sump pump.

What Is Iron Ochre?

Iron ochre is a rusty-reddish, slimy substance with a foul smell. Iron alone is not responsible for generating iron ochre. To form iron ochre, iron bacteria found in groundwater interacts with oxygen and creates reddish brown sediment.

The slimy sediment has the potential to clog basement drainage systems, including your sump pump, causing it to malfunction or fail. Its characteristic sewage-like foul smell makes it easy to detect.

Is Iron Ochre a Problem?

Iron ochre is indeed a problem that leads to multiple issues in your home, such as:

Iron ochre clogs up drainage pipes or tiles and creates a narrow passage for water flow. As a result, standing water seeps into your basement, causing moisture issues.

The iron bacteria in your sump pump can compromise its functioning. For instance, the thick slimy substance obstructs the backflow valves responsible for preventing water backflow. When valves don’t work properly, they result in water damage and flooding.

Iron ochre has a strong, unpleasant odor that may spread throughout your basement or crawl space if left untreated.

Does Iron Bacteria Affect Basement Waterproofing Systems?

Yes, iron bacteria are naturally found in the soil and groundwater. These bacteria thrive when they come in contact with iron and oxygen and transform into viscous, slippery substances. The jelly mass sticks to your basement waterproofing systems, such as interior or exterior drain tiles, sump pumps, and sump pits. When it builds up inside your drainage pipes or drain tiles, it compromises the flow of water out of your basement.

If iron bacteria build up in sump pump components, your basement will suffer from severe water damage due to reduced water flow rate and inefficient pumping. However, skilled waterproofing professionals can design and maintain systems that reduce the probability of clogs from iron ochre in your basement.

How To Remove Bacteria From a Sump Pump?

If your sump pump is not effectively pumping out water, iron bacteria may have compromised its functionality. Therefore, you must take prompt action to remove the gunk from your sump pump and prevent clogging issues.

Here are a few ways you can remove iron bacteria from a sump pump:

First, evaluate the condition of your sump pump and check all the components to detect ochre buildup.

Remove any standing water from the sump pit before you start.

You can use chemicals like bleach or hydrogen peroxide to get rid of the bacteria.

If you would rather not use chemicals, you can use a pressure washer with a jetter hose, a sewer jetter, or a drain cleaner to scrub and flush the sticky residue out of sump pump components such as pit walls, valves, and discharge lines.

For tougher iron ochre, use a sewer jetter with a nozzle, as it can easily penetrate and flush out solidified gunk.

After cleaning the area, treat the source of iron bacteria to prevent future clogs. Chemical treatments, such as chlorine shocks or less corrosive compounds, like oxalic acid, can kill iron bacteria in your sump pump.

To prevent further clogging, you can have extra components installed as part of your waterproofing system, such as a sump pump alarm to prevent flooding or a filter sock to prevent your drain tile from clogging.

Before starting the cleanup process, make sure to wear gloves and eye protection.

How To Prevent Iron Ochre?

Even though the soil holding your home contains large amounts of iron, you can prevent iron ochre formation by implementing some crucial remedies.

Take the following proactive measures to prevent iron ochre accumulation.

Do not underestimate the consequences of recent flooding, moist basement, and standing reddish water after rainfall on the ground.

To prevent iron ochre buildup, grade the land around your home so that water drains away naturally.

Implement interior waterproofing techniques inside your foundation to control water infiltration. Once your foundation has less humidity, it greatly minimizes iron ochre formation.

Conclusion

Iron bacteria occur naturally and may grow in your sump pump and form sticky deposits when they come in contact with oxygen. If the first solution does not eliminate all of the iron ochre, multiple treatments and prevention techniques are sometimes necessary.