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My basement sump pump gave out during that big melt, here's what I learned
Two weeks ago the snow started melting fast and my sump pump just died in the middle of it. I came down to the basement with laundry and heard this weird gurgling, then saw about an inch of water creeping toward the storage shelves. I shut off the power right away and started scooping with a bucket, which took close to two hours. The pump itself was maybe 7 years old, and I never once checked the float switch or cleaned the pit, so it was full of grit and the motor just seized. I went to Home Depot and picked up a new pedestal pump for around $200 and installed it that same evening, but I also added a backup battery unit after the fact. The worst part was the damp carpet smell that lingered for days, and I ended up renting a dehumidifier to dry things out. Has anyone else dealt with a surprise pump failure here, and do you use a water alarm or anything to catch it early?
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raymartin2mo ago
Oh man, that gurgling sound is the stuff of nightmares. You nailed it on the float switch, I never thought to check mine either until I had a mini flood from a clogged pit. Adding that battery backup is smart, but I'd also suggest testing it every few months, they can fail silently if you don't. And yeah, the carpet smell is brutal, I ended up having to rip mine out entirely because the padding just soaked it all in.
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