Sump Pump Not Working? It Might Be Air Locked!

Bottom intake sump pumps (most common) are prone to air locking - even when they have a relief hole built into the pump housing. If the housing is metal and the hole rusts over or the housing is plastic and becomes clogged, your pump is just waiting to become air locked. Once primed, a bottom intake pump will generally not have any air locking issues unless air is introduced into the system and it fails to push it through. With air trapped or "locked" in the pump housing, the impeller is simply spinning in air and not moving any liquid. Your pump will sound like it is running (humming) but not actually doing anything. A relief or "weep" hole in the discharge piping downstream of the pump and before the check valve is the best spot for it and also provides an indicator that the pump is running.

I hope this video helps you out and if not let me know in the comments. Myself or maybe someone watching may have a solution!