Sump pump installation and replacement
The sump pump is the one part of a drainage system that has to work during the worst storm of the year. Here's what goes into getting it right.
A sump pump sits in a pit at the lowest point of the basement floor. Water from a perimeter drain, or from saturated soil under the slab, collects in the pit. When it reaches a set level, a float switch starts the pump, which pushes the water up through a pipe and out of the house. A stuck switch, a burned-out motor or a power outage during a storm can leave the pit to overflow, so the pump is only as good as its switch, its backup and its discharge.
How do I know my pump is in trouble?
- It runs even when it hasn't rained in days
- The motor hums but water level doesn't drop
- The float hangs up on the pit wall or the cord
- The pit has gravel, silt or orange sludge in the bottom
- It rattles, trips the breaker, or nobody knows how old it is
What choices will the company offer?
- Primary pump. Submersible units sit in the water and run quietly. Pedestal units keep the motor above the pit for easy access. Either way, sizing should match how much water your pit really gets.
- Battery backup. A second pump on a battery steps in when the main pump quits or the power goes out.
- Sealed lid and liner. These keep debris out of the pit and cut down on basement humidity and odor.
- High-water alarm. An alarm warns you before the pit overflows.
Where should the discharge go?
To ground that slopes away from your house and your neighbor's, and not onto a sidewalk where it will freeze. A discharge that ends a foot from the foundation just sends the same water back to the drain. Rules on tying pumps into sanitary sewers vary, and many sewer authorities don't allow it, so if you don't know where your line goes, have the company trace it and confirm what your municipality allows.
What drives the cost?
- Reusing an existing pit or digging a new one
- Pump type, plus any backup or alarm
- Length and route of the discharge line, including buried sections
- Whether a dedicated electrical circuit is needed
We don't quote prices. The waterproofing company prices the job after it has looked at the walls, the floor joint, the sump pit and the outside drainage, because the same symptom can need very different fixes. Treat any firm number given over the phone, sight unseen, with caution.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is a battery backup pump worth it?
If you store anything valuable in the basement, or your power tends to go out in summer storms, a backup is worth a serious look. It only runs when the main pump can't keep up or has stopped.
Why is there orange sludge in my sump pit?
Iron-rich groundwater is common in coal country and can leave orange deposits that clog pumps and pipes. Ask the company how they'll handle it and how often the pit should be cleaned.
Related services
More background: Johnstown basement water guide.
Wet floor after a storm, a crack that weeps, or a sump that never rests?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a waterproofing company that works in the Johnstown area.