Is Your Sump Pump Spraying Water? Possible Reasons & Solutions

Michael Bowen November 9, 2024

Is your sump pump spraying water? It might be because of a spraying weep hole, malfunctioning check valve, loose or broken piping, or several different reasons.

The primary task of a sump pump is to pump away water to keep your home free of moisture during a flood. If your basement sump pump is producing water everywhere, it is malfunctioning.

You may use a sump pump to prevent water or moisture from entering your basement. If your pump is pouring water, you must fix it to avoid further damage.

The most common reason your sump pump might leak water is its damage. You may purchase a new sump pump if you cannot fix the damaged one.

Here are some reasons for sump pump spraying water, as well as how to prevent it from happening in the future.

Reasons And Solutions For Sump Pump Spraying Water

Here are the six frequent reasons for sump pump spraying water and how to prevent it from happening in the future. Most of the time, you will be able to repair the pump, but sometimes you may require to buy a new sump pump.

Leaky seal to discharge pipe

The first and primary reason for the sump pump spraying water is loose discharge pipe or seals.

Sump pumps may leak because the seals that link the pump to the discharge pipe or lines wear out due to regular use, seismic activity, or other disturbances. You might fix a leaking pump by renewing the seals.

Check every connection, as leakages might occur from multiple locations and leak. Peek at the drain lines as well as the valve seals to establish the source of the leak.

If the seal is connected loosely to the pipe, tighten it with a wrench. If the connection is broken, seek professional assistance or replace the damaged part.

The Zoeller 30-0181 is an excellent option to ensure a tight seal between the check valve and your NPT discharge line because it has two connectors on both ends.

Electric Issues

Another reason for the sump pump spraying water is electrical issues.

Sump pumps that use electric power are more vulnerable to issues than those powered by other sources. It may be as straightforward as a loose connection or as severe as faulty wiring. Your pump will run much less efficiently if it has electric issues.

Ask an electrician or a sump pump professional to examine if you have any electrical problems with your pump. Don’t make a DIY repair to these issues.

Holes in piping

Damage to pipes can occur at any phase of the installation process, particularly at joints and connections. Corrosion is one of the more common issues with cast iron pipes, but other issues may exist if the lines are old. It’s impossible to patch a fractured pipe.

PVC and other materials can degrade over time. Cast iron pipes are more resistant to leakage and more prone to corrosion over time. To run the sump pump properly, you must swap the cracked pipe for a new one.

Replace any broken pipe with new cast iron ones, as they are still better than PVC and other materials. This resolves the issue of the sump pump spraying water outside.

Excessive water than the capacity

You may have trouble when your sump pump doesn’t have enough grunt to push out all the water in your basement. If your sump pump is small, it won’t be able to handle the large volumes of water it must move. The extra pressure created by the sump pump damages it internally, resulting in the sump pump spraying water.

To get rid of excess water, you need a sump pump that can move large amounts of water. A WAYNE 1 HP Cast Iron and Stainless Steel sump pump may be an excellent choice for a sump pump spraying water due to its small capacity.

Malfunctioning check valve

A check valve in a sump pump keeps water from flowing back into your basement after it’s pumped out. Unfortunately, when the valve is not working correctly or is faulty, it can’t prevent the backflow of water after pumping it out.

If the valve is malfunctioning and spraying water, it may cause moisture issues in your basement. If you hear loud banging sounds due to the water hammering, you should replace the valve with a silent spring-loaded check valve.

When you suspect your basement is wet, carefully inspect the check valve. If there is no leakage and water is still coming out, you must replace it to resolve the sump pump spraying water issues.

Faulty weep hole

The sump pump generates air pressure between the discharge and check valve during operation. Because of this, air must be able to escape through the weep hole.

If the weep hole is placed in the wrong location, it can prevent air from escaping. Next, remove the water flowing back out of the pump. We will discuss this issue involved in causing the sump pump to spray water outside below.

Weep Hole Spraying Water

One of the main reasons for the sump pump spraying water is leaking weep holes.

When water sprays out of the weep hole of a sump pump, it negates its purpose of keeping the basement dry. The weep hole spews water excessively most frequently because it drilled incorrectly. The weep hole may also expel water overly because it is too close to the check valve or water line.

If the weep hole is spraying and causing damage, try to cover it up while allowing air to flow inside. You can achieve this by putting something near it at a small distance. Put a bucket underneath it to catch the water that leaks down.

When the pump is not on active duty, you’ll have to replace the weep hole with an appropriate one. Here you have two options to solve the issue of the sump pump spraying water due to leaking weep holes:

Replace the pipe with the weep hole thoroughly
Fill up the gap and drill a fresh one in the correct place

You can seal the hole up with plastic repair epoxy. It sets fast, so you don’t have to leave your basement unprotected by your sump pump for too long.

Alternatively, you can substitute the pipe in its entirety. Don’t forget to pay attention to the correct dimensions when you do.

Valve Spraying Water

Another reason for the sump pump spraying water is a loose or broken check valve seal. The water may be spraying out of the check valve because of a few issues. The seal might not be tight enough or have broken.

If the water comes from where the valve connects to the pipe, tighten it with a wrench. Or, if the connection is faulty, seek professional help or replace the damaged part.

Discharge Pipe Spraying Water

The sump pump works hard to drain groundwater if water is spraying out the end of the discharge pipe. Alternatively, in case of the sump pump spraying water and leaking inside, you must repair the pipe connection to avoid a basement flood.

Conclusion

Your basement sump pump must not spray water everywhere. The sump pump’s sole purpose is to ensure no water or moisture enters your basement. Hopefully, you may have figured out the reasons and solutions for the sump pump spraying water outside.

If you’re unsure whether you can remove the problem of the sump pump spraying water alone, ask for assistance. If you’re careful in the beginning, you may avoid this hassle in the future.

Before buying a sump pump, ensure you know how large your basement is so you can choose the right one. Don’t attempt DIY installation if you’re not an expert.

Professional installers can do the job for you. While it may cost you a little bit of money, it will save you big bucks in the long run.