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Sump Pump and Drain Failure in Salt Lake City

Water-damage response when a sump pump stops, a floor drain backs up or a basement drain fails and water fills a lower level in Salt Lake City.

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Sump and Drains

Sump Pump and Drain Failure: what it covers

Quick answer

Sump pump and drain failure is water damage that starts when the system meant to carry groundwater or drain water away stops working. A stopped pump, a clogged floor drain or a backed-up line can fill a basement in hours. Salt Lake City Water Damage Restoration answers these calls 24/7 and sends a crew to remove the water and start drying in Salt Lake City.

Sump Pump and Drain Failure illustration for Salt Lake City, UT

A sump pit is the low point a basement is designed around. Water that gathers in the ground is supposed to drain toward it, and a pump lifts that water out through a discharge line. When the pump stops, or when the drain that feeds the pit backs up, the water has nowhere to go but across the basement floor. A failure that looks minor from the top of the stairs can fill a room quickly.

Most calls for this service come from a pump that stopped in the night or a floor drain that began to bubble as the water rose. Both are answered 24/7 by the same phone line, and the crew sent is the nearest one that is free. The technician asks two questions first: is the pump running, and where does the water stand relative to the pit cover and the stairs.

If you can see water rising in a lower level, call (833) 490-5225 from outside the room and describe what the pump is doing. Do not wait to see whether the water stops on its own, because the water in a basement rarely stops once it has started moving toward the lowest point.

Service area
Salt Lake City & Salt Lake County
Availability
Phones answered 24/7, emergencies first
Warning signs

Signs you need sump pump and drain failure

Do not reach into a sump pit, touch a pump or handle its cord while water is near it. Turn off the power to the pit at the breaker before inspecting anything, and do not stand in water to reach a switch. Do not run a drain snake or a chemical drain cleaner while the basement is flooding, because the chemical can splash and the snake can push a blockage further down the line. If the pit is full and you cannot reach the breaker safely, leave the room and call for a crew.

  • A sump pump that is silent while water is rising in the pit
  • A pump that runs constantly, short-cycles or hums without moving water
  • Water bubbling up through a floor drain or a basement toilet
  • A gurgling sound from a drain after a heavy use of water upstairs
  • A discharge line that is wet, cracked at its outlet or sending water back toward the house
  • A pit cover that lifts or rattles as water pushes beneath it
  • A breaker that trips each time the pump starts
Our process

How our sump pump and drain failure visit works

  1. Cut power to the pit area

    The technician checks the outlet, the breaker and the pump's plug before anything else. If water is in contact with the pump or the outlet, the power to that circuit is switched off at the panel. A dead pump is rarely the whole story, so the crew does not assume the power problem is the only one.

  2. Find out why the pump stopped

    A stopped pump can have a blown fuse, a stuck float, a clogged intake, a failed motor or a discharge line that is blocked. The crew tests each of these in order and records which one it found. Where the pump has to be replaced, the technician says so and explains what the replacement involves.

  3. Clear the drain and the line

    A floor drain that is backing up is cleared with a cable or a drain machine, and the crew checks the trap and the cleanout. The discharge line is inspected from the pit to the outlet. A blockage in the line can send water back into the pit, so the path is cleared end to end before the pump is restarted.

  4. Pump out and read the room

    Once the pump is running or a temporary pump is set, the water is drawn down in stages. Moisture meters are placed on the walls, the floor and the bottom of the stairs. The readings show how far the water travelled and what has to be pulled.

  5. Dry and leave a repair note

    After the water is down, drying equipment is set and logged daily. The crew leaves a written note of the failure, what was cleared or replaced and what still needs a plumber or an installer. Photographs of the pit, the pump and the water line are kept with the moisture log.

Job stories

Typical jobs for sump pump and drain failure

Typical job
Illustration: How a stopped sump pump is usually handled

How a stopped sump pump is usually handled

What homeowners notice
A basement sump pump stops during a power cut and the pit fills until the water reaches the carpet at the edge of the room.
What we do
The technician checks the outlet, the breaker, the float and the discharge line. A temporary pump is set so the pit can be drawn down while the permanent unit is repaired or replaced by a plumber.
What to expect
The room is dried, and the crew's note records the failed part and the repair it needs, so the plumber starts from a clear finding.

Set by the cause of the stop and the amount of water in the pit typical visit

How long can a sump pit overflow before the damage is serious?

A pit that overflows can fill a basement within hours, depending on how much water is coming in. The longer the water stands, the more materials it soaks, and the more of the room has to be dried or removed.

The rate of flow matters as much as the depth. A pit fed by a steady seep can overflow slowly, while a pit fed by storm water can fill in a matter of minutes. The technician looks at how fast the water is rising when the crew arrives, because that tells it how much time the room has left.

Once the water reaches the carpet pad or the lower course of drywall, the materials begin to hold moisture. Early pumping keeps those materials from soaking, and it is the single most useful step in limiting the scope of a pump failure.

What moves the price of a sump or drain repair call?

The price depends on whether the pump is repaired or replaced, how much water is in the room, and whether the drain or line is blocked inside or outside the building. The price is explained and approved before work starts, and this page gives no figure.

A repair that clears a float or a fuse is a short visit. A pump that has to be replaced, a line that has to be dug out or a sewer blockage outside the wall is a different job. Each of those is explained on site, along with the reason it is needed.

Water removal is priced separately from the pump work. The volume of water in the room, the materials that stood in it and the number of drying visits all go into the scope. The technician writes these out before any equipment is set up.

Can I check my sump pump myself during a storm?

You can look at the pit from a safe position and check whether the pump is running. Do not reach into the pit or touch the pump, its cord or the outlet while water is around them.

Lift the pit cover only if you can do it without stepping into water and without touching electrical parts. If the pit is full and the pump is silent, call for a crew rather than trying to reset the pump yourself.

Test the float switch only when the power is off and the pit is dry, following the pump's manual. A float that sticks in the up position can run the pump constantly, and a float that sticks down can keep the pump from starting at all.

Why does a drain back up when the pump is working?

A drain can back up even when the pump runs, if the discharge line is blocked or the storm or sewer line is full. The pump then pushes water into a line that cannot take it, and the water returns to the basement through the drain.

Check valves are fitted to stop water flowing back into the pit, and a stuck check valve can let water return through the line. The technician tests the valve and the line together so the backup is not blamed on the wrong part.

A backup that appears only when the upstairs sink or toilet is used can point to a blockage in the main line. That kind of problem often needs a sewer specialist, and the crew says so in its written note.

What happens to the pit and the discharge after a repair?

After the repair, the technician runs the pump through a cycle, checks the discharge outlet and confirms that water leaves the property. The pit cover is replaced only after the pump is running and the pit is clear.

A discharge outlet should carry water away from the foundation. The crew checks where the water lands and notes whether it runs back toward the building. If the outlet is pointed at the foundation, the technician tells you so and suggests a correction.

Keep a note of the pump's make and the date of the repair, and keep the crew's written note with your claim file. A service history helps the next technician and gives your insurer something specific to read.

Options

Types and options for sump pump and drain failure

Stopped sump pump with a full pit

A full pit with a dead pump is the most common version of this call. The crew pumps the pit by hand or with a portable unit, checks the float and the intake, and sets a temporary pump if the permanent one cannot be fixed on the spot. The water inside the room is removed only after the pit is under control.

Floor drain backing up into a lower level

When a floor drain backs up, the water comes up through the drain grate and spreads outward across the floor. The crew clears the line and checks whether a sewer or storm line is causing the backup. If the blockage lies outside the building, the technician says so and recommends a sewer specialist.

Discharge line failure

A discharge line that is cracked, disconnected or blocked sends pumped water back toward the building. The water can be pumped out and then return through the same line. The crew traces the line from the pit to its outlet, and it marks where the water is leaving the line so the repair can be made at the right point.

Power loss during a storm

A pump that runs on mains power stops when the power goes out, and the water rises until power returns. Where there is a battery backup, the crew checks that it is charged and working. Where there is none, the crew sets a temporary pump on a portable supply if one is available.

Salt Lake County

Why sump pump and drain failure is different in Wasatch Front, Utah

Westpointe, Rose Park and Fairpark sit in Salt Lake City council District 1, and a failed sump or drain in those neighborhoods is a water call this business takes. The crew checks the pit and the discharge line first, then the floor drain, whichever part of the city the call comes from. The first steps are the same everywhere: power off, pump checked, drain cleared.

A sump is only as good as the pump that empties it. The crew treats a pump that has run through a storm as a pump under strain. When the unit is worn, the technician says so and notes the condition on the written record.

A power cut can strike at the same moment water is rising, which is the situation a battery backup is meant to cover. Where there is no backup, the crew's first visit may be a temporary pump set on a portable supply. The note the crew writes records that choice, so the owner knows what was in place during the event.

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Where we work

Sump Pump and Drain Failure across Salt Lake County

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Guides

Read before you book

FAQ

Sump Pump and Drain Failure FAQs

What is the fastest way to tell whether my sump pump has failed?

Look at the pit. If the water is above the normal level and the pump is not running, the pump has failed or lost power. A pump that is running constantly, or one that starts and stops rapidly, is also a sign that something needs attention.

Can a battery backup stop a pump failure from flooding the basement?

A battery backup keeps the pump running when mains power is lost, but it does not fix a stuck float, a blocked line or a worn motor. A backup should be tested at intervals, and the crew can check it on site if it is there. It is one part of the protection, not a full guarantee.

Will the crew clear a backed-up drain in the street?

The crew clears drains inside the building and checks the line as far as it can reach from inside. A blockage in the public sewer or the street line is outside its scope, and the technician will recommend a sewer specialist or the utility that owns the line.

Why does my basement smell after a drain backs up?

Drain water can carry sewage, which leaves a strong smell and can soak into carpet, pad and the lower part of the walls. The crew removes the affected materials and cleans the floor drain. Keep children and pets out of the room until the crew says it is clean enough to use.

Is it safe to keep using the pump while the power is intermittent?

An intermittent supply can make a pump short-cycle, and the motor can overheat. Turn off the breaker for the pump if you see it starting and stopping rapidly, and call a crew. The technician checks the pump's supply and tells you whether it is safe to run.

Does a drain failure count as a sewer claim?

Whether a drain or sewer backup is covered depends on your policy and any endorsements on it, and your insurer decides that. The crew records what caused the backup as far as it can see. This site cannot say what will be paid.

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