Check these first
Stay out of the water if it is near outlets, extension cords, the furnace or the water heater. If you can reach the pit safely:
- Is the pump plugged in? Cords get bumped, and many pumps plug into a GFCI outlet that trips. Press the reset button.
- Is the power out? A pump does nothing without electricity. If the neighborhood is dark, a battery backup or a generator is the only fix.
- Is the float stuck? The float switch tells the pump to turn on. If it is wedged against the side of the pit or tangled in the cord, gently free it.
- Is it running but not pumping? A humming motor with no water moving usually means a clogged intake, a stuck check valve or a frozen or blocked discharge line outside.
- Is it running nonstop and falling behind? The pump may be too small for the storm, or the discharge is cycling water back into the pit because it empties too close to the house.
If water is already on the floor
- Call us and get a crew on the way to pump it out and start drying.
- Move boxes, furniture and anything stored on the floor up to a dry level.
- Photograph the water line on walls, the pump and the pit.
- If you rent a pump or borrow one, run the discharge hose well away from the foundation, at least 10 feet and downhill.
Why sump pumps fail
- Age. Most pumps last somewhere around 7 to 10 years. A lot of Lee's Summit homes built in the 1990s and 2000s have had the same pump the whole time.
- Power outages. Spring thunderstorms that drop heavy rain are the same storms that knock out power.
- No testing. A pump can sit idle through a dry winter and seize up.
- Discharge problems. Lines that freeze in winter, get crushed by a mower, or dump water right back next to the house.
Preventing the next one
- Test the pump every spring by slowly pouring a bucket of water into the pit until the float lifts and the pump turns on.
- Add a battery backup pump, or a water-powered backup if your home has city water pressure to spare. Ask a plumber which fits your pit.
- Keep the lid on the pit to keep debris out.
- Extend the discharge line and downspouts so water lands well away from the foundation.
- Ask your insurance agent whether you have water backup coverage. Most standard Missouri policies leave sump overflow out unless you added it.
Related help in Lee's Summit
- Basement flood cleanup: Water out of finished and unfinished basements, with drying and tear-out where needed.
- Storm and flood damage: Cleanup after flash flooding, wind-driven rain or roof leaks from a storm.
- Drying and mold prevention: Dehumidifiers, air movers and moisture checks until walls and floors are actually dry.