What the pump is doing when it works

A sump pump sits in a pit at the low point of the basement. Groundwater and water from drain tile around the foundation flow into the pit, a float rises with the water, and the pump switches on and pushes the water out through a discharge pipe to the yard. In much of Englewood the pump runs rarely, then hard for a few days after a wet spring storm or a fast snowmelt.

Because it sits idle for months, a sump pump often fails exactly when it is needed. The float can stick against the side of the pit, the check valve can jam, the motor can seize, or the outdoor end of the discharge line can be frozen or buried under snow. A power outage during a thunderstorm stops even a healthy pump.

Narrowing down the cause

  • IfThe pump is silent and nothing on that circuit has powerThenCheck the breaker or GFCI outlet, but only if the panel and the floor around you are dry. If the power is out across the street, a battery backup or a generator is the only way to keep the pit down.
  • IfThe pump hums but no water movesThenThe impeller may be jammed or the discharge line frozen or blocked. Unplug the pump before touching anything in the pit.
  • IfThe pump runs but the water keeps risingThenInflow is beyond what the pump can handle, or water is coming from somewhere else, such as a window well, a floor drain backing up, or a plumbing leak.
  • IfWater is coming up through the floor drain rather than the pitThenThat points to a sewer backup, not groundwater. Treat the water as contaminated and stop using sinks, toilets and the washer.

What to do while the water is rising

  1. Stay out of standing water near power

    If water has reached outlets, cords, the furnace or the water heater, do not walk in. Shut off power at the main panel only if you can reach it from a dry spot; otherwise call the utility.

  2. Move the valuables first

    Carry boxes, documents and electronics upstairs before anything else. Lift furniture onto blocks or plastic containers if the water is still shallow.

  3. Get the pit pumping again

    Reset a tripped GFCI, free a stuck float, or plug the pump into a working outlet with a heavy-duty cord. A spare pump or a rented one can be dropped into the pit in minutes.

  4. Check the outlet end

    Walk outside and make sure the discharge pipe is open, not frozen, and not dumping water right back against the foundation.

  5. Write down times and depths

    Note when you found the water, how deep it was, and when the pump started again. Insurers ask for exactly that.

Common questions

How long can basement carpet stay wet before it has to go?

Carpet soaked by clean water can sometimes be dried if extraction starts within a day or two. Carpet pad usually has to be replaced, and anything soaked by sewage should be removed.

Is a battery backup worth it?

For a basement that has flooded before, a battery backup or a water-powered backup pump is one of the cheapest ways to avoid a repeat during the storms that knock out power.

General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.