Is Your Sump Pump Tripping the Breaker? Check for One of These 5 Common Culprits

If you keep noticing strange noises in the basement, it’s (probably) not a gremlin. If the noises are accompanied by water flooding the room, there’s a good chance you have a sump pump problem. It’s likely that your sump pump is tripping the breaker time and again. But why? Here are five reasons your sump pump is tripping the breaker and what you can look for before calling the pros.

1. Cracked Housing

Two of the most common types of sump pumps are submersible and pedestal pumps. Submersible sump pumps can short-circuit if even the smallest thing goes wrong since they’re constantly in contact with water. Most commonly, the sump pump's housing can crack over time from normal wear and tear. This causes water to seep in, tripping the breaker.

Visually inspect your sump pump's housing. If it's letting water in, you might be able to just replace the housing. However, the pump itself may need to be replaced if it's water-damaged beyond repair. Call a pro if you’re having trouble figuring out if the housing is to blame. 

2. Faulty Float Switch

A sump pump can trip the circuit breaker if the float switch stops working. The float switch controls the water level, and the switch should rise and fall with each cycle. If the switch stops working properly, it can cause the sump pump to overload or dry-run. This results in the sump pump frequently cycling on and off, which can overload the breaker.

Check the float switch's position and see if it's stuck. Float switches can get stuck or fall apart from age and normal wear and tear.

3. Broken Mechanical Seals

Sump pumps have mechanical seals that keep the pump windings safe. If these seals break, water can get into the pump windings. Seals often break because a bearing gets worn down over time, allowing water to seep in. This can cause the pump shaft to seize and increase the starting current too much, shorting out the circuit breaker.

Check whether the mechanical seals are broken or loose, and call a pro to replace them if needed.

4. Clogged Impeller

Impellers rotate inside the pump to create suction. If the impeller is broken or clogged by debris, mud, gravel, or other materials, the pump has to work much harder to move water to the sump pit. This makes the pump overheat and use more power than normal, causing the circuit breaker to trip.

Check the sump pump's impeller to see if anything is causing a blockage. If a natural disaster just occurred in your area or you’ve recently had some kind of property damage, it's common for the sump pump breaker to keep tripping because of a clog. 

Check that the impeller is free from clogs. You may need to learn how to unclog a sump pump and what its normal operational state should look like.

5. Electrical Issues

Faulty parts, clogs, and leaks are all common signs of overloading. The harder a sump pump has to work, the more likely it is to trip the breaker because the components and wires are overheating. Overheating and overworking cause the motor to draw more current, resulting in a breaker trip. Sump pumps connected to the same circuit as high-power devices will also easily become overloaded. 

Wiring issues are also a common electrical culprit of sump pump shorting. If your home is older, the wires can be worn out from age and decades of use. Additionally, sump pumps that were incorrectly hooked up to the wires can cause the breaker to trip.

If you suspect that electrical issues are the cause of the problem, you should contact a local sump pump installer to correctly diagnose it. They may be able to handle the wiring problems. If your sump pump is connected to the same circuit as another high-power device, a local electrician can create a new circuit for you.