Sump pump installation and replacement
The sump pump is the part of a drainage system that actually gets water out of the house. When it fails, everything else fails with it.
Picture a lined hole sunk into the deepest corner of the slab. Drain pipe or groundwater fills it, a rising float trips the motor, and the pump pushes water through a discharge line to the outside. In a heavy storm, a working pump may cycle again and again. Pumps also tend to fail at the worst time, because a thunderstorm that saturates the ground can also knock out power.
Signs your sump pump needs attention
- It runs constantly, or turns on and off in quick bursts
- It hums but no water leaves the pit
- Rattling, grinding or a burning smell
- Rust, a stuck float, or a pit full of silt and gravel
- No one remembers when it was installed
What are the main options?
- Primary pump replacement. Swapping a worn pump for a properly sized submersible unit, with a check valve so water doesn't drain back into the pit.
- Battery backup. A standby pump wired to its own battery that kicks in if the main pump or the power fails.
- Water-powered backup. Uses municipal water pressure to pull water from the pit with no electricity. It only works on public water with adequate pressure, so ask whether it fits your house.
- Alarms. A high-water alarm, or a monitor that sends a phone alert, warns you before the floor gets wet.
- New pit. For basements that have never had a sump, the crew cuts the floor, sets a lined pit and runs a discharge line out through the wall.
Where should the water go?
The discharge should end far enough from the foundation that it doesn't soak back down to the footing and come right back in. Don't tie a sump into a floor drain or sewer cleanout unless your municipality says that's allowed; many sanitary sewer systems prohibit groundwater connections because storm water overloads them. Ask the City of Williamsport or your borough or township what's permitted where you live.
Is a sump pump covered by flood insurance?
FEMA lists sump pumps among the basement items covered under National Flood Insurance Program building coverage, as long as they're connected and installed where they operate. Finished basement improvements are generally not covered. Coverage for seepage or a pump failure outside a declared flood depends on your policy, so ask your agent.
What affects the price?
- Whether there's an existing pit or a new one has to be cut
- Pump type and horsepower for your water volume
- Backup system choice and battery size
- Length and route of the discharge line
The waterproofing company sets the price, and it should do that only after someone has been in the basement, looked at the walls, floor joint and sump, and walked the outside of the house. We don't quote prices. A figure offered over the phone before anyone has seen the foundation is a rough guess, not a quote.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
How do I test my sump pump?
Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit. The float should rise, the pump should start, and the water level should drop before the pump shuts off. If it doesn't, call for service.
Do I need a backup pump?
If a flooded basement would damage a furnace, finished space or stored belongings, a backup is worth discussing. Power outages during storms are when primary pumps most often fall short.
Related services
More background: Lycoming County basement water guide.
Wet floor after every storm, or a sump that runs all night?
Call and a Lycoming County waterproofing company will set up a visit.