Video · Sump Pumps
Sump Pump Running Constantly? Signs the Old One Is Failing
A sump pump running constantly either has more water than it can handle or a problem making it think so: a stuck float, a failed check valve or a pump too worn to empty the pit.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- Sump Pumps
- Length
- 0:37
- Posted
- September 14, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
A tech with glasses and a black SwiftPro shirt carries a boxed new sump pump from the wrapped SwiftPro van parked in a driveway, while another tech kneels by the van.
The old pump sits in a red bucket, coated in sludge from years at the bottom of the pit. At the basement sump pit, a gloved tech in gray sleeves fits new white PVC discharge pipe to the replacement.
Why it matters in your house
- If the pump runs in dry weather, suspect the check valve. A failed one lets the pipe drain back into the pit, and the pump keeps moving the same water in a loop.
- Sludge like that on the old pump wears the impeller and can jam the float. A worn pump runs longer to move less water, and that's often the last stage before it fails.
- Strange noises matter too. Grinding or rattling usually means a worn impeller or debris in the housing, and a pump that hums without moving water is close to done.
Is it bad if my sump pump runs constantly?
During a big storm, it's normal for a while. In dry weather, or for days on end, it isn't. Constant running wears the motor out fast and can mean a stuck float, a broken check valve, a frozen or clogged discharge line, or a pump too small for the water coming in. Have it checked before it burns out.
Want it done at your place? See Sump Pumps at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
More videos from the SwiftPro crew
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0:29How Does a Sump Pump Work? The Float Starts Everything
0:48When to Replace a Sump Pump, Told by a Bucket of Sludge
0:19How Long Do Sump Pumps Last? An Old Pump Still Running Somehow
0:34How Often Should You Replace a Sump Pump? Start With a Check
0:52How to Prevent Basement Flooding: A New Pump Before the Storm