What it usually means
| A stuck float | The float is jammed against the pit wall, tangled in the cord or held up by debris. The pump runs with no water to move. |
|---|---|
| A failed check valve | Water in the discharge pipe falls back into the pit each time the pump stops, so it starts again. You can hear it rush back. |
| A blocked or frozen discharge | The pump runs and the water level does not drop. Check where the pipe ends outside. |
| A pump too small for the job | It runs constantly in every storm and only just keeps up. |
| A lot of water coming in | A high water table, a broken water line or a neighbour's downpipe. The pump is fine and something else is wrong. |
| It runs and hums but moves nothing | A jammed or broken impeller. See Pure Mechanical Group's write-up of wipes around a sump pump impeller. |
What to check yourself
- Lift the lid and look. Is there water, and is the level going down while the pump runs?
- Free the float if it is caught. It should rise and fall without touching anything.
- Listen when the pump stops. A rush of water back into the pit means the check valve has failed.
- Go outside and find where the pipe discharges. Clear leaves, ice or soil from the end.
- Unplug the pump before putting a hand in the pit.
Stop and call a plumber if
- The water is not going down with the pump running
- The pump is hot, noisy or tripping its breaker
- It is a sewage pump, not a storm sump
- The pit is filling faster than it can empty
Call 1-800-604-0631, any hour.
What fixing it costs
Diagnosis and small repairs are hourly. Repairs like this are hourly: $289 for the first hour on site and $189 an hour after, in regular hours (9 to 5, Monday to Friday). Outside those hours every rate is double.
Typical costs for the usual fixes are in the guides for sump pump installation and sump cleaning. For how a careful diagnosis runs, read when a sump alarm needs evidence before replacement.
Questions people ask
How long should a sump pump run at a time?
Long enough to empty the pit, usually well under a minute, then off. Cycling every few minutes in heavy rain is normal. Never stopping is not.
Should I have a backup?
If the basement is finished or the pump runs often, yes. A high-water alarm is the cheapest protection, and a battery backup covers a power cut.
Can I just unplug it?
Only if the pit is dry and staying dry. If water is coming in, unplugging it floods the basement.