Most houses in New Britain have a full basement, and a lot of them sit on ground that holds water after a long rain or when the snowpack melts in March and April. The sump pump is what stands between that groundwater and your finished basement, furnace, water heater and stored belongings. It tends to fail at the worst possible moment: during a storm, often with the power out.

When to Call About Your Sump Pump

The pump hums but the water level in the pit doesn't drop
It cycles on and off every few seconds, or runs without stopping
Grinding, rattling or loud vibration while it runs
The float is stuck against the side of the pit
A wet ring on the concrete around the sump after rain
The pump is getting old and has never been tested

What We Repair and Install

Pump repair and replacement: failed float switches, worn motors and clogged intake screens, or a new submersible or pedestal pump sized for the pit and the water it handles.
Battery backup pumps: a second pump that runs off a battery when the power goes out or the main pump can't keep up.
Check valves and discharge lines: a failed check valve lets pumped water fall back into the pit, and a frozen or crushed discharge line outside sends it nowhere at all.
New installations: a pit, pump and discharge for basements that take on water but never had a sump.

Winter Matters Here

Connecticut winters bring a problem that warm-climate plumbers rarely see: the outside discharge pipe freezes solid. Once that happens the pump keeps running against a blocked line until it burns out or the pit overflows. We route and pitch discharge lines so they drain between cycles, and can add a freeze-relief fitting so water still has a way out.

The discharge should also send water well away from your foundation and not into the sanitary sewer, which most municipal sewer rules prohibit. If your basement also has drain backups rather than groundwater, see our drain cleaning service.

Our Sump Pump Service

Test

Fill the pit and watch the pump, float and check valve work

Diagnose

Find whether the fault is the pump, switch, valve or discharge

Fix or Replace

Repair the part or install a correctly sized pump

Protect

Add backup and freeze protection where they make sense

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a sump pump last?

Often somewhere around seven to ten years, depending on how often it runs. A pump that works hard every spring wears out sooner, so testing it each fall is a good habit.

Do I need a battery backup sump pump?

If the basement is finished, or holds things you could never replace, a backup is worth considering, because heavy storms that raise groundwater are also the ones that knock out power.

Can my sump pump drain into the sewer?

In most places, groundwater from a sump pump is not supposed to go into the sanitary sewer; check local rules. It should discharge outside, away from the foundation.

Sump Pump Repair in New Britain, CT