Are Sump Pumps Supposed to Be Noisy?

It’s not uncommon to hear your sump pump running while you’re going about your day. While hearing the sump pump may annoy you at times, being able to hear it a bit is actually a blessing. It’s easier to detect sump pump problems when it begins to sound differently than it usually does.  

• Normal Sump Pump Sounds 

Depending on how much it rains, there are really only two sounds you should hear a functioning sump pump make. The first is the sound of the motor as the sump pump runs. It’s completely normal for there to be a steady, quiet hum as the sump pump is working. Low-quality sump pumps usually make more noise because the cheap motor wasn’t built to be quiet. 

The second sound is the sound of water filling up the sump pump’s pit. Depending on how much it rains and how much water the sump pump is taking in, this can be a loud or quiet noise. After heavy rain, it’s completely normal to hear a lot of water spilling into the pit. Sometimes, it might even overtake the sound of the motor.  

• Irregular Sump Pump Sounds 

A quiet hum and the sound of a stream of water falling into the pit is all you should hear. Any gurgling or slurping indicates problems with the valve or the sump pump’s shut-off height. After the water is in the pit, the sound of it being drained out is actually pretty silent, so if you can hear it draining, there’s a problem. Motor problems often manifest themselves by making the sump pump sound like an exhaust fan. 

Loud banging and vibrating are also indicators of a malfunctioning sump pump. These noises are usually connected to the discharge pipes hitting the components of the sump pump. It means that the pipes need to be secured into place so that they don’t rattle. Sometimes, if the banging is really intense, you’ll be able to feel the vibrations in the areas of the house closest to the sump pump.