Sump Pump Installation & Repair

What a sump pump does for your house

A sump pump keeps a house from flooding. Water that collects in the soil around a foundation has to go somewhere, and without a way out it finds the lowest part of the building. A pump sits in a pit, called a basin, set into the floor. When the water in the basin rises to a set level, the pump switches on and sends it out through a pipe to a place where it can drain safely away from the foundation.

Most homeowners never think about the pump until the day it matters. That is usually during heavy rain or a fast spring snowmelt, when groundwater peaks and the pump is working hardest. In the Salt Lake Valley, snowpack runoff and sudden storms can raise groundwater quickly, and the areas near the benches and foothills often see more water movement than flatter ground. A pump that has sat idle through a dry stretch is still expected to start the moment it is needed.

• The pit collects water that drains toward it from around and under the foundation
• A float or switch turns the pump on when the water reaches a set height
• A discharge pipe carries the water outside and away from the house
• A check valve on that pipe keeps pumped water from running back into the pit

Signs your sump pump needs attention

A failing pump often gives warning before it quits, but only if someone looks. Open the lid on the pit now and then and listen when the pump runs. A healthy pump starts, moves water out quickly and shuts off. Trouble tends to show up as noise, as running that never seems to end, or as a pit that stays full.

Do not wait for a flooded floor to find out. If the pump runs constantly in dry weather, the float may be stuck or the check valve may be letting water fall back. If it does not run when the pit is full, the switch, the motor or the power supply may be at fault.

• Loud grinding, rattling or humming from the pit
• The pump runs constantly or cycles on and off every few seconds
• The pump does not start when water is high in the basin
• Visible rust, debris or silt in the pit
• A damp smell or wet spots on basement walls and floors
• The pump is old enough that you do not remember when it was installed

Repairing or replacing an existing sump pump

Many sump pump problems are fixable. A stuck float, a clogged intake, a failed check valve or a loose connection can often be corrected without replacing the whole unit. A technician checks the pit, the float, the power supply, the discharge pipe and the valve, then tells you what is actually wrong.

Sometimes replacement is the sensible call. If the motor is worn out, the housing is cracked or the pump has been repaired more than once, a new pump in the existing pit is usually the cleaner answer. A straight repair or like-for-like replacement of an existing pump does not normally need a permit, but rules differ by city and county, so confirm with your city or county building department before you start.

1. Turn off power to the pump before anyone reaches into the pit.
2. Inspect the basin for debris, silt and anything that could jam the float.
3. Test the float and switch, then check that the pump moves water out at a steady rate.
4. Examine the discharge pipe and check valve for blockages, cracks or backflow.
5. Repair the faulty part or replace the pump, then run water into the pit to confirm it works.

Installing a new sump pump

A new installation is a bigger job than a swap. If your house has no pit yet, one has to be created, which usually means cutting into the basement floor, digging the basin hole and setting the basin so its top sits level with the slab. The discharge line then has to be run to a location that makes sense for your lot. Where that water is allowed to go depends on local rules, so it is worth asking your city or county before deciding.

A new sump pump installation needs a permit. The permit exists so that the work is looked at by someone who is not the installer, and it also puts a record on file for the house. Confirm the exact requirements with your city or county building department, since each one runs its own process. A technician can walk you through where the pit should go and where the water will exit.

• Where water collects and where the low point of the floor is
• Where the discharge pipe can exit without sending water back toward the house
• Electrical access for the pump and how it is protected
• Whether the existing floor and slab layout allows a pit in a good location

Why call Rocket for a sump pump

Rocket is a West Jordan plumbing company run by a father and his sons, and you can schedule online, call or text. Emergency hours run 24/7, which matters when the water is already coming in.