The Camden County Library System has temporarily closed its Haddon Twp. Branch in Westmont due to water damage in several areas of the building. A malfunctioning sump pump in the library’s boiler room sprung a leak, resulting in damage to carpeting, flooring, and drywall.
The problem was first identified on Sunday, and police were notified, which prevented more serious damage from occurring. Damaged was kept to a minimum with only 10 books being affected, and library officials say repairs should be completed by Friday.
The library plans to reopen to the public on Saturday, May 7, depending on the progress of cleanup efforts. Staff will be able to return to work on Friday, May 6.
Due dates will be extended to compensate for the closure, and fines will be waived on overdue items during the same period. Customers can return books at any of the library system’s other six branches.
The library system plans to post updates on the cleanup process on their website at www.camden library.org throughout the week.
The damage to the Haddon Twp. Library is a prime example of what can happen when proper measures aren’t followed to prevent water damage or flooding. Sump pumps are fine and can do much to cut down on the likelihood of a major water related incident. They can break down however, and it is important to keep up proper maintenance and ensure that the pumps are always in good operating condition.
Of course you should always unplug your sump pump before conducting and type of maintenance work on the unit, primarily for your safety.
Sump pumps should always be kept clean, as clogging is the chief culprit in sump pump malfunctions. The inlet screen may be blocked by dirt or the buildup of any kind of debris. This screen is designed to remove small waste particles from the water, but it can be easily overrun. You should use gloves and remove all the debris from the pump, then use a garden hose to fill the pump with water, causing it to start functioning again. If the pump fails to start on its own, consult your manual.
Don’t forget to inspect your “check” valve. Sometimes, the check valve can be improperly installed. The check valves are set up so that when the sump pump shuts off, no water will go back into the sump pump. The check valve’s arrow should not be pointing toward the sump pump.
Some pumps will have what is commonly known as a weep hole, usually between the sump pump and the check valve. You can clean this weep hole out with a toothpick or other tiny object. Be careful not to break anything into the weep hole.
You may also have to deal with unpleasant odors coming from the sump pump. This is caused from the sump pump trap. The trap will have water that stay s there, but when it hasn’t had any water for a while, an odor starts to form. This is from a gas that is created from sewage water. You can check on this and keep a little bit of water in it, and you can eliminate the odor by using a bleach-water mixture to cleanse the basin. One part bleach to 5 parts water is good. You can fill the basin until the sump pump turns on, too, and this will help with eliminating the odor better.
You may also want to consider purchasing a generator with your sump pump. This way, you have adequate power to keep it operational in the event of a power outage. It may be an additional expense now, but far less than the cost of repairs following a sump pump failure or malfunction.
If the problem is beyond your ability to handle, contact your local IICRC certified water restoration professionals.
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