A sump pump is an important piece of equipment for just about any house with a basement, especially if you live somewhere with lots of ground water. Check valves are an important component of sump pumps that keep the water from flowing back through the drainage pipe into the basement.

Sump pumps are used to help keep your basement dry by pumping any standing water out into a sewer or storm drain. These pumps come equipped with check valves, which are located at the area of the drainage pipe that connects to the pump. These valves are important because they allow for the flow of water in one direction, while at the same time preventing the flow of water backward from the pipe into the basement. Without a check valve, the water that you are trying to pump out of your basement to keep it dry is just as likely to flow back into the area that it was pumped out of to begin with. In order for your sump pump to work correctly and keep your basement as dry as possible, you need to ensure that the check valve on the pump is in good working order.

If your sump pump has stopped functioning correctly, the first thing you should look at is the check valve. If these valves are not installed properly, not only will they not serve their intended purpose of keeping the water from flowing back into the basement, but they will actually prevent the sump pump from working at all. One common problem that many homeowners find when their sump pumps aren’t working is that the check valve has been installed facing the wrong direction. When this happens, instead of keeping the water from flowing backwards, the check valve will prevent the water from flowing out from the pump into the drainage line, causing pressure to build up in the line and the pump to burn out as there’s no way for the water to be discharged.

Another common problem when your sump pump has stopped working is that the check valve may have worn out. Without a functioning check valve, the water that is being pumped out of the basement will simply flow back in after the pump has shut off. This greatly increases the wear and tear on your sump pump, as it will be repeatedly pumping out the same water that it just finished pumping out a while ago. It is also important to perform regular maintenance on your sump pump to keep it clear of debris, as a build-up of dirt or other particles can prevent the valve from functioning properly. Make sure the drainage line is cleaned out regularly, and if your pump stops working, disconnect the pump from the drainage pipe and make sure the valve isn’t clogged with debris from your basement floor.

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