Drains & sewer
If your sump pump hums but doesn't pump, runs nonstop, or the pit is full and the pump is silent, it needs attention before the next heavy rain. Many failed pumps are simply replaced; a battery backup is worth adding if your basement has flooded before.
Signs your sump pump is failing
- It hums but water doesn't drop
- It runs constantly, even in dry weather
- It cycles on and off every few seconds
- The float is stuck or tangled
- It's more than about ten years old
- The discharge line outside is frozen, crushed or disconnected
Battery backups and water-powered backups
Power cuts and heavy storms often arrive together. A battery backup pump takes over when the main pump or the power fails. Water-powered backups use city water pressure instead of a battery, but they use a lot of water and need adequate pressure. A contractor can tell you which suits your house.
Where sump pumps matter most around Baltimore
Low-lying and older neighborhoods, houses near streams and the Patapsco valley, and waterfront communities in Anne Arundel County see the most groundwater. Ellicott City's flash floods made backwater valves and backup pumps a common request there. Many Baltimore rowhomes have no sump at all and rely on a basement floor drain, which can back up when the sewer is overloaded.
Where does the water go?
Sump discharge should go outside, away from the foundation. Connecting a sump pump to the sanitary sewer is generally not allowed in Maryland jurisdictions, because storm water overloads the sewer system. Ask the contractor to confirm the rules where you live.
How to get sump pump repair and installation in Baltimore
- Call 443-863-5471. Tell us what's happening and where you are. Calls are answered 24/7.
- We connect you. You're put through to a licensed, independent local plumber who handles this kind of job in your area.
- Get a clear quote. The plumber explains the problem and the price before any work starts.
- You decide. Approve the work, and the plumber completes it with any permit your city or county requires.
Plumbers in Baltimore Today is a free referral service; we don't perform plumbing work ourselves. How it works.
Frequently asked questions
How long do sump pumps last?
Many last roughly seven to ten years, less if they run often. Test yours by pouring a bucket of water into the pit every few months.
Can I install a sump pump in a basement that doesn't have one?
Yes, but it means cutting the floor, digging a pit and running a discharge line. It's a bigger job than replacing a pump and may need a permit.
What's a backwater valve?
A valve on the sewer line that stops sewage from flowing back into the house when the public sewer overloads. It's often paired with a sump pump in flood-prone areas.