When the pump is not the problem
Pump repair & replacement
A pump running perfectly into a blocked discharge line is still a flooded room. We test the whole path, not just the motor.
Pumps get replaced far more often than they need to be. The usual sequence is that a room floods, the pump gets blamed, a new one goes in, and the room floods again a few months later, because the discharge line running away from the pit was the actual problem all along.
So we test the path. Pit cleaned out, float switch tested through its full travel, check valve verified, and the discharge line cleared and proven under real flow. If the pump genuinely has failed we will replace it, but you will know that is what you paid for.
Signs of trouble
- The pump runs constantly or cycles rapidly
- It hums but moves nothing
- Water backs up despite the pump running
- The pit is full of silt, gravel or debris
- It has never been tested and you are heading into storm season
What we test
- Pit cleaned and inspected
- Float switch through its full range of travel
- Check valve holding and not back-feeding
- Discharge line cleared and flow proven to the outlet
Test it before the storm, not during
A pump that has sat idle through a dry spring is a pump nobody has proven. Pour water into the pit and watch the full cycle. If it does not start, or starts and nothing leaves the discharge, you have found that out on a calm day.
Straight answers
Questions about pump repair & replacement
My pump runs but water still backs up. What is wrong?
Almost always the discharge line, a stuck check valve, or a frozen or buried outlet. The motor is doing its job and the water has nowhere to go. This is exactly the case where replacing the pump changes nothing.
How long does a pump last?
Several years under normal duty, less if it is cycling constantly because the pit is undersized or the float is misadjusted. Rapid cycling is worth investigating on its own, because it is usually a fixable cause rather than a dying pump.
Flat rate, quoted before we start
Let's get it flowing
Call and talk to a person. You get a straight answer on what it is, what it costs, and when we can be there.