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Sump pumps
Sump Pump Repair, Replacement and Backup Pumps
A sump pump only matters during the storm, which is exactly when an old one fails. We repair and replace pumps, add backups and check the whole system, including the pumps installed under Ann Arbor’s footing drain program.
- Pump replacement
- Battery backups
- Check valves & discharge
- FDD pumps
Request a Plumber
Tell us what is going on. We call you back to talk it through and set up a visit. For water running right now, call (734) 228-7852.
No obligation. By sending, you agree we may call, text or e-mail you about this request. Calls may be recorded. Privacy Policy
Warning signs
Signs Your Sump Pump Needs Attention
It runs constantly
A stuck float switch, failed check valve or a pump too small for the inflow.
It doesn’t start
Pour a bucket of water in the pit: the pump should start and empty it.
Loud grinding or rattling
Worn bearings or a damaged impeller.
Water left in the pit
Short-cycling or a check valve that lets water run back.
It is getting old
Many pumps last somewhere around 7 to 10 years; older pumps are worth replacing before they fail.
Damp basement after storms
The pump or discharge line may not be keeping up.
Ann Arbor homes
Have a Sump Pump From the Footing Drain Program?
From the early 2000s, the City of Ann Arbor disconnected footing drains from the sanitary sewer at a large number of homes and installed sump pumps to carry that water away instead. The program has since wound down, and those pumps are now the homeowner’s to maintain and replace.
Many of those pumps are well into their second decade. If yours was installed under the program, it is a good time to have it checked and to think about a backup.
- Pump, float switch and check valve tested
- Discharge line checked for freezing and blockage
- Battery or water-powered backup added
- Pit cover and alarm options
Backup pumps
Backup Options When the Power or Pump Fails
Battery backup pump
A second pump on a battery that takes over when the power goes out or the main pump fails. Batteries need checking and replacing over time.
Water-powered backup
Uses city water pressure to pump the pit, so no battery is needed. It needs good water pressure, uses water when running, and in Ann Arbor it is a cross-connection that needs a backflow preventer.
Backflow testing →High-water alarm
A simple alarm that sounds when the water in the pit rises too high, so you know before the floor is wet.
FAQ
Sump Pump Questions
How long do sump pumps last?
Many last roughly 7 to 10 years, depending on how often they run and their quality. A pump that runs a lot in a wet basement wears out sooner. Testing it each spring and fall catches problems early.
Who maintains a sump pump installed by the City of Ann Arbor?
The homeowner. Pumps installed under the footing drain disconnection program are the owner’s responsibility to maintain and replace; the city doesn’t service them.
Do I need a battery backup sump pump?
If your basement is finished, stores things you care about, or floods when the pump stops, a backup is cheap insurance. Storms that knock out power are often the same storms that fill the sump pit.
Where should my sump pump discharge?
Away from the foundation, onto your own property, in a way that doesn’t create ice or flow onto neighbors. Connecting a sump pump to the sanitary sewer isn’t allowed; that is what the footing drain program was designed to stop.
Why does my sump pump run when it hasn’t rained?
A high water table, groundwater after snowmelt, a stuck float, or a check valve that lets the discharged water fall back into the pit. If it cycles every few minutes in dry weather, have it checked.
What is the difference between a sump pump and an ejector pump?
A sump pump moves groundwater from the footing drains. An ejector pump lifts sewage from a basement bathroom or laundry up to the sewer line. They aren’t interchangeable.
Also helpful
Related Plumbing Services
Problems in one part of the plumbing often point to another. These services go hand in hand.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewage backups, no water and leaks you can’t stop. Call first; we talk you through shutting the water off.
Learn more →Drain Cleaning
Kitchen, bath, laundry and floor drains cleared, and the cause found so the clog doesn’t come right back.
Learn more →Backflow Testing
Testing and repair of backflow preventers on irrigation, boilers and commercial systems.
Learn more →24/7 in Ann Arbor & Washtenaw County
Is Your Sump Pump Ready for the Next Storm?
Call (734) 228-7852 for a sump pump check, replacement or backup pump.
Request service
Tell Us What’s Going On
Send a few details and we will call you back to talk it through and set up a visit. We answer 24/7: for water running or sewage backing up right now, call (734) 228-7852.
- 24/7 emergency service, nights, weekends and holidays
- $99 diagnostic fee, applied to the repair
- Financing: 25 months same as cash, on approved credit
- The price explained before work starts
- Call(734) 228-7852
- Service areaAnn Arbor & Washtenaw County
- LicensingMichigan plumbing license #A111705
Request a Plumber
Tell us what is going on. We call you back to talk it through and set up a visit. For water running right now, call (734) 228-7852.
No obligation. By sending, you agree we may call, text or e-mail you about this request. Calls may be recorded. Privacy Policy