Sump Pump Repair & Installation in Topeka, KS

How it works

Groundwater collects in the drain tile around the foundation and runs into the sump pit. When the water rises, a float switches the pump on and it pushes the water out through a discharge pipe. If any part of that chain fails, the water has nowhere to go but the floor.

Common failures

Floats that stick against the pit wall, pumps that burn out after years of short cycling, check valves that let water fall back into the pit, and discharge lines that freeze or get crushed outside. A power cut during a storm is the most common reason of all.

Pump runs all the time

A pump that never stops may be too small for the inflow, may have a failed check valve, or may be pumping water that runs straight back toward the house because the discharge ends too close to the foundation.

Battery backups

A backup pump on its own battery keeps working when the power goes out in a storm. It doesn't replace the main pump, but it buys hours. Batteries need replacing every few years, and the plumber can show you how to test it.

Discharge lines

Water should leave the pipe well away from the foundation and slope away from the house. Lines buried or run across the yard can freeze in winter, so many homes add a small opening near the house that lets water out if the line is blocked.

Replacing an old pump

Many sump pumps last somewhere around seven to ten years. If yours is older and you have a finished basement, replacing it before storm season costs less than drying out carpet and drywall. Send a request and a plumber will get in touch.