Sump pump installation and replacement
A sump pump only matters during the worst storms of the year, which is exactly when it can't fail. Here's how to get it right.
The sump pump sits in a pit at the low point of the basement. Drain tile and groundwater under the slab feed the pit, a float switch turns the pump on as the water rises, and the pump pushes the water up and out through a discharge pipe. When the pump quits in the middle of a downpour, or the power goes out, the pit overflows. That's why the pump, the switch, the backup and the discharge line all deserve attention.
When should a pump be checked or replaced?
- It runs constantly, even during dry stretches
- It hums or clicks but doesn't lower the water
- The float hangs up on the pit wall or the pit is full of gravel and silt
- It rattles, smells hot or trips the breaker
- Nobody knows how old it is
What are the main choices?
- Primary pump. Submersible pumps sit in the water and run quieter; pedestal pumps stand above the pit and are easy to service. The company should size the pump to how much water your pit actually collects.
- Battery backup. A second pump on a battery takes over if the main pump fails or the power drops during a storm.
- Alarm. A high-water alarm warns you when the pit is filling faster than the pump can empty it.
- Sealed lid. A tight cover keeps debris out and cuts down on basement humidity and odor.
Where is the pump allowed to discharge?
Outdoors. The City of Dubuque's inflow and infiltration program cites City Code 13-2A-1, which bars stormwater, groundwater and foundation drainage from the sanitary sewer, and its brochure shows discharge outside the basement through rigid pipe as the proper setup. A flexible hose or a line into the floor drain is listed as improper. Outside, the water should land somewhere that slopes away from the house and won't flood a neighbor's yard or freeze across a sidewalk. If you live outside the city, ask your own city hall what it allows.
What affects the price?
- Reusing the existing pit or digging a new one
- Pump type, plus any backup pump or alarm
- Length of the discharge line and whether it's buried
- Whether a dedicated outlet or other electrical work is needed
We don't quote prices. The waterproofing company sets its price after someone has been in the basement, looked at the walls, floor joint and sump pit, and walked the outside to check gutters, downspouts and grading. Any figure offered before that visit is a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is a battery backup sump pump worth it?
If the basement holds anything you'd hate to lose, or your power tends to go out in storms, it's worth a serious look. The backup only runs when the main pump can't keep up or has no power.
My sump pump drains into the floor drain. Is that a problem in Dubuque?
Yes. The city lists that as an improper connection under its inflow and infiltration program. A waterproofing company or plumber can reroute the discharge outdoors.
Related services
More background: Dubuque basement water guide.
Water on the floor after a storm, or a sump pit that never rests?
Call and a Dubuque-area waterproofing company will come see what's going on.