Category Sump pumps

Two different questions: how many hours per outage, and how many years before replacement. Here is the math for both, and how to extend each.

A five-gallon bucket and ten minutes four times a year is the difference between a working pump and a flooded basement. Here is exactly what to do.

A pump that runs without moving water is either recirculating, airlocked, blocked, or stuck. Work through these eight causes in order before replacing anything.

There is no single correct number. What matters is whether your pump's pattern matches conditions. Here is what normal looks like and when to investigate.

Your pump is dead and the water is rising. Here is the emergency sequence: safety checks, the 60-second diagnosis, and how to move water without a working pump.

A dry sump pit is usually good news. But if it stays dry through heavy rain while your walls are damp, the drain tile may not be reaching it. Here is how to tell.

Most sump pumps last 7 to 10 years, but the range runs from 3 to 15 depending on factors you control. Here is what shortens it and when to replace.

A plain-English breakdown of how a sump pump works, every part in the system, how to size and maintain one, and what to do when it fails.