Sump pump failed: what to do right now
Look at the pit. If the pump is running but water is still rising, the discharge line may be frozen, kinked or blocked. If it is silent, check whether it is still plugged in and whether the breaker has tripped. Reset a tripped GFCI outlet once, and if it trips again, leave it alone.
Do not step into standing water if it reaches outlets, the furnace, the water heater or a freezer. Switch off power at the panel only if you can reach it dry. Lift stored boxes onto shelves, and Call (630) 822-9290 us. Tell us whether the pit is full, how high the water is and whether the power is out.
While you wait for the plumber
- Do not wade into water that touches outlets or appliances.
- Check the pump plug and breaker once, from dry ground.
- Look for ice or a kink where the discharge pipe leaves the house.
- Move belongings and electronics off the floor.
- Do not use a wet-dry vacuum on standing water near power.
What the Village code says about your sump discharge
The Village of Hoffman Estates sets rules for where sump water goes, found in Municode Section 11-3-2. Sump pumps must connect to the storm sewer or discharge to ditches or swales. A discharge extension may not end closer than 3 feet to the property line and must point toward the ditch or swale.
For installations on or after January 1, 1990, storm water must discharge underground to the nearest storm sewer unless the Village Engineer allows a wetland, detention basin or ditch. Footing drains and drain tile may not connect to the sanitary sewer. In practice this means a pump that dumps into a floor drain or a sewer cleanout is a code problem, and we will say so before reworking it.
The Village drainage handout sets the standard for the pipe that carries sump water underground at 4 inches or larger, buried 18 inches, with an air gap where the discharge enters it. A replacement pump that reuses a smaller or shallow line may not meet it.
Why Cook County rain tests a sump pump
The National Weather Service normals for Chicago O'Hare show about 37.86 inches of precipitation in an average year. O'Hare is roughly 12 miles away, so Hoffman Estates totals will differ, but the point holds: a pit that sits idle in a dry week may have to move a large volume in one night. The Cook County hazard plan for Hoffman Estates lists flooding on October 14, 2017 and says multiple areas of the Village are prone to flooding.
Because of that, a pump with an old switch or a dead backup battery is a risk even if it ran fine last month. Test yours by pouring a bucket of water into the pit before a forecast storm. If the float does not lift or the pump does not start, (630) 822-9290 us before the rain arrives.
Repairing a sump pump
Common faults include a stuck or tangled float switch, a clogged intake, a failed check valve and a burned motor. A stuck float is a quick fix, while a motor that runs hot and cycles constantly usually means replacement. We also check the check valve, since a bad one lets water fall back into the pit and makes the pump run again and again.
When we replace a pump we size it for the pit and the discharge height, clean out silt and debris, test the float and run water through to confirm the discharge. We can also fit a battery backup, a water-powered backup or an alarm so a power outage does not leave you exposed.
| Problem | What it usually means | Typical action |
|---|---|---|
| Runs nonstop | Stuck float or bad check valve | Free float, replace valve |
| Will not start | Switch failure or no power | Replace switch, test power |
| Loud grinding | Worn motor or debris | Clean pit, replace pump |
| Runs, water not leaving | Frozen or blocked discharge | Clear line, reroute |
| Water backs into pit | Check valve failed | Replace check valve |
Installing a new sump pump or basin
A new installation starts with the pit, the pump size and where the discharge will end. The Village drainage permit handout asks for private pipe at least 4 inches in diameter, buried 18 inches deep, and an air gap per the Village detail where sump or downspout water connects to underground piping. We plan the discharge to follow those requirements and Section 11-3-2.
Bring up your layout when you call, such as whether you have a pit already and where the discharge exits. If you are weighing a bigger project, our basement waterproofing page explains how pumps fit with other water control.
Ejector pumps are a different machine
An ejector pump lifts sewage from a basement bathroom, laundry or floor drain up to the sewer line. Hoffman Estates code separates the two: a sump pump handles storm water, and an ejector pump handles sanitary sewage. Never connect one to the other's line.
A failing ejector pump can bring sewage into the basement. That is a health risk, so keep everyone out of the area and Call (630) 822-9290 right away. If the problem is a clog and not the pump, we can follow up with sewer line cleaning.
What changes the price of a sump pump job
We give the price by phone before work starts and confirm it once the plumber has seen the pit. If an emergency call happens at night, we tell you that up front as well.
Yes. Our line is open 24/7, including during storms. Call and tell us how high the water is.
Stay out of water near outlets and appliances. Check the pump plug and breaker from dry ground, and move belongings off the floor.
Municode Section 11-3-2 requires connection to the storm sewer or discharge to a ditch or swale. It may not connect to the sanitary sewer.
No. Under the Village code, footing drains and drain tile may not connect to the sanitary sewer.
Pour a bucket of water into the pit. The float should lift and the pump should start and empty the pit quickly.
It helps, because storms often cut power when the pit is busiest. We can talk through the options.
A sump pump moves storm water. An ejector pump moves sewage from a basement bathroom or floor drain.
Yes, licensed and insured.
Call about your sump pump in Hoffman Estates
Call (630) 822-9290 and give us the address, what the pump is doing and how much water is in the pit. We cover ZIP codes 60169, 60192, 60179 and 60195, and we take storm calls at any hour. If water is also coming through a wall or a pipe and not the floor, our leak detection service can trace it, and (630) 822-9290 is the fastest way to reach us.