What it is
Your sump pump is the last line of defense. It empties the basin that your drain tile fills and sends the water out of the house. When it fails, the basement can flood in an hour, and it usually fails during the storm that's filling it.
Many pumps last somewhere around 7 to 10 years. A lot of south metro homes built in the 1980s and 1990s are on their second or third pump, and plenty still have no backup at all.
Signs you need it
- The pump runs nonstop in spring or cycles every minute
- Grinding, rattling or a humming motor that doesn't pump
- Water near the top of the basin during storms
- A pump older than about 7 to 10 years
- No battery backup, or one nobody has tested
How the work is done
Check the whole setup
The contractor looks at the basin, float switch, check valve and discharge line, including whether the outside line freezes in winter.
Size the pump
The right pump depends on how much water comes in. Cast-iron submersible pumps are a common choice.
Add a backup
A battery or water-powered backup keeps running when the power goes out.
Test it
The basin is filled so you can watch the pump turn on and the water leave the house.
What it costs
Compare every service in the cost guide. These are rough ranges; the real price comes after an inspection.
Questions
Do I need a battery backup?
If your pump runs often during storms or melt, yes. The storms that cut power are the same storms that fill your basin.
Why is my discharge line freezing?
Lines that run along the ground or sag can hold water that freezes. A contractor can re-route the line or add a freeze protection fitting.
Can the water go into the sewer?
Generally no. Most Twin Cities cities prohibit sending sump water into the sanitary sewer, so it should discharge outside, away from the foundation.
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Related services
- Basement waterproofing: Keep water out of finished lower levels, walkouts and split-level basements.
- Interior drain tile: A perforated pipe at the footing that sends water to your sump before it reaches the floor.
- Foundation crack repair: Seal leaking cracks in poured walls and get block wall cracks checked before they grow.
- Yard drainage and grading: Regrading, downspout extensions and drains that stop runoff before it reaches the wall.
Where we serve
We connect homeowners with contractors across Dakota, Scott and south Hennepin counties, including Burnsville, Savage, Apple Valley, Bloomington, Credit River, Rosemount, Richfield, Lakeville. See all service areas.