How Long Do Sump Pumps Last On Average?

How long does it take to replace a sump pump?

Sump pump life expectancy is an important area to consider for anyone interested in installing this piece of equipment. By their design, sump pumps are meant to draw or empty water from basements or areas with stagnant water.

Whenever one is installed, it’s expected to serve for some time before it’s considered for replacement. Now, the length of time necessary or how often a sump pump needs replacement becomes the question.

This is where our focus will lie for the rest of this article. We invite you to read on for more details.

So when do sump pumps usually backup?

Service Life of Sump Pumps

A starting point for anyone seeking to install a sump pump involves noting the lifespan of the equipment in question. The maximum life expectancy of a sump pump is about 10 years.

How many cycles can a sump pump last?

Some pumps can reach a maximum cycle of about 1,000,000.

So, what’s the cycle time of a sump pump? This is similar to its lifespan. It simply means the number of times a pump is expected to run (when triggered by the float switch).

With time, functionality steadily declines and finally comes to a halt when there’s a system breakdown.

How Often to Change Sump Pump

A sump may be due for replacement after serving for a period of 6 to 7 years.

Regardless of maintenance these pumps eventually reach a point of no return. This means they’re no longer functional and have reached the end of their lifespan.

So, if the maximum lifespan of a sump pump is about 10 years, why has it been replaced when it’s been used for only 6 to 7 years? Having exceeded the 6 to 7-year mark, a sump pump ceases to function optimally as it used to.

It may require more frequent repairs and maintenance as well.

As for efficiency declines, it’s best to have the system replaced with one that functions optimally. You don’t want to incur frequent maintenance costs than necessary.

Signs That Point To the Need for Sump Pump Replacement

Apart from the expected life expectancy of a sump pump, another way to know whether it needs replacement is by the increased need for repairs. Some common issues associated with these pumps become more frequent.

We’ll need to state what these problems are.

They include constantly running pumps, unusual or strange noises, and excessive vibration during use. Other problems you might notice include irregular cycling, frequent power outages, running for a long and motor failure.

You may also discover visible rust in addition to a stuck motor.

• Constantly Running Pumps

A sump pump is expected to run for some time until the float switch puts it off when the water level is down.

However, this feature is likely to get distorted when the float switch loses its calibration. Such may be due to the pump exceeding its usefulness.

In other words, it may no longer be as efficient as it used to due to it getting old.

Sometimes, you may need to replace the sump pump float switch itself.

• Unusual or Strange Noises

When sump pumps are installed newly, they’re at their optimal best.

You’ll get used to a regular sound pattern. As the years go by, the sound given off may change. Such sound leaves you with no doubt that all is not well with your sump pump.

At this point, no amount of maintenance can restore it to normal functioning. This is true of an old sump pump.

The grinding noise you hear may be due to damaged components or worn-out parts. It’s best to consider replacement at this point.

• Excessive Vibration During Use

When your sump pump begins to vibrate excessively during use, it’s a clear sign of issues that may defy routine maintenance. This is more severe when the same problem keeps reoccurring despite carrying out basic repairs.

At this point, it’s assumed that the sump pump has outlived its usefulness. A final verdict will come from an experienced waterproofing contractor or plumber after close inspection.

Here, it’s clear that the sump pump lifespan is crucial to its efficiency.

• Irregular Cycling

Sometimes, you may notice irregular cycling of your sump pump even when the water level isn’t enough or is low. This is not normal and will require finding the root cause.

Ordinarily, such sporadic starts and stops may be due to wiring malfunctions.

However, when such an occurrence is too frequent, it may be a clear sign of the pump needing replacement. Your technician is likely to confirm the need for the pump replacement.

• Frequent Power Outages

Being directly wired to your home’s electrical system, you should expect a burnout or pump failure when certain components fail.

Sometimes, hooking it up to a secondary power backup source like a battery can help prevent these frequent power outages.

However, there’s no guarantee that frequent power outages will stop especially when such is caused by an aging system.

• Running for Long

There are times when sump pump malfunctions will lead to the system running for long. Sometimes, this may not be due to a malfunction but as a result of inadequate power to get the job done.

If so, getting the right pump size should solve the problem.

• Rust

With moisture presence, you’re bound to experience rusting of metal components of a sump pump.

This should be resolved or scraped off easily with scheduled maintenance. However, there are times when severe rusts will affect the normal functioning of a sump pump.

At this point, it’s best to have the pump replaced. This ensures that water is pumped out from your basement efficiently.

Can Sump Pump Lifespan Be Extended?

Sump pump functionality is mostly hinged on maintenance.

In other words, the condition of a sump pump will be determined by how well it’s maintained. However, we’ve mentioned earlier that little can be done (by way of maintenance) to keep a sump pump that’s broken down to function.

So the question arises; can the sump pump lifespan be extended through maintenance? Maintenance comes at a cost but will ensure that your pump functions optimally. This is likely to extend its lifespan to a few more years.

A sump pump will serve you for a couple of years (about 10 years) but will need to be replaced after its 6^th to 7^th year of use. This is to ensure that water gets expelled effectively from your basement.