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Sump pump failure water damage in Cedar Rapids

Water pumped out after a sump stopped or fell behind, with the pit and the entry point checked.

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Sump Failure

Sump Pump Failure Water Damage: what it covers

Quick answer

Sump pump failure water damage is water that builds up in a basement when a sump pump stops, is undersized or cannot keep up with the inflow. The crew removes the water, checks the sump and its discharge, traces where the water entered, and dries the cellar. It does not replace the pump; that is a repair job.

Sump Pump Failure Water Damage illustration for Cedar Rapids, IA

A sump is meant to take water that collects under and around a basement floor and move it out of the house. When the pump in the pit stops, or when the water arriving is more than the pump can move, the pit fills and the water rises into the cellar through the floor, the joints and the drain. The damage is the same as any cellar flood, but the cause is different, and the cause decides whether the problem comes back.

A sump pump can fail for ordinary reasons: a float that sticks, a switch that does not trip, a discharge line that freezes or clogs, or a motor that has worn out. It can also be overwhelmed. During snowmelt or heavy rain, a pump that is the right size on a dry day may not keep up with the water arriving at the pit, and the cellar floods while the pump is still running.

Call (833) 490-5225 if the pump has stopped, if the pit is full, or if water is rising in the cellar. The line is answered 24/7 and a crew is sent as soon as one is free. Before the crew arrives, do not stand near the open pit, do not reach into it while the pump is connected to power, and avoid stepping into the water on the floor.

Service area
Cedar Rapids & Linn County
Availability
Phones answered 24/7, emergencies first
Warning signs

Signs you need sump pump failure water damage

Do not reach into an open sump pit while the pump is connected to power, because the pump can start without warning. Do not stand on the pit cover or lean over the pit while water is rising. Do not touch the pump or its wiring when the floor is wet, and never run a generator inside the house to keep the pump going.

  • A sump pump that runs continuously, or runs in short bursts without stopping
  • A pit that is full, overflowing or fills faster than the pump empties it
  • Water coming up at the floor joint or the floor drain beside the pit
  • A discharge line that is dry when the pump is running, or wet and icy at the outlet
  • A pump that makes a grinding, humming or clicking sound and does not start
  • A float that sticks in the up position, or a smell of hot wiring at the pit
Our process

How our sump pump failure water damage visit works

  1. Make the pit and the power safe

    The crew checks the sump, the pump's power and the cellar floor before anyone steps close to the pit. Power to the pump and the cellar is isolated from a dry location if it can be done safely, because a pump that is still connected can start without warning.

  2. Pump the cellar down

    Portable pumps are placed to clear the standing water in the cellar and send it to a discharge point the homeowner approves. The water is kept out of the pit so the sump does not fill again while the cleanup is under way.

  3. Find out why the sump failed

    The pump, float, switch, check valve and discharge line are checked to see whether the pump stopped, was overwhelmed or was never sized for the inflow. The finding is written down, because it decides the next step.

  4. Trace where the water entered

    The floor joint, the walls and the drain are inspected for the route the water took into the cellar. Wet bands and staining show where the water came in, and the entry points are recorded for a repair contractor.

  5. Dry the cellar and report

    The cellar is dried to readings and the moisture levels are logged on each visit. The report notes the pump's condition and the entry points so a qualified contractor can repair the pump or the drainage without guessing.

Job stories

Typical jobs for sump pump failure water damage

Typical job
Illustration: A sump that cannot keep up during a thaw

A sump that cannot keep up during a thaw

What homeowners notice
After a thaw, the sump runs without stopping and the water rises at the floor joint. The homeowner has a basement with paneling along two walls.
What we do
The crew pumps the cellar down while the sump is kept clear, then checks the pump, the float and the discharge line. The report notes that the pit was overwhelmed rather than failed, and it marks the wet joint for a contractor.
What to expect
The cellar is dried to readings and the homeowner receives a written note on the pump's condition and the entry point, to pass to a contractor for the repair.

Usually one visit to clear the cellar, then a report for the contractor typical visit

Why does a sump pump fail when the basement needs it most?

A sump is most needed when the ground is wet, and that is also when the pump is working hardest. A pump that is running continuously can overheat, and a float or switch that has been sitting unused can fail when it is called on. The pump's job is hardest when the homeowner least expects it.

Sump pumps are usually left alone until they are needed. Dust, sediment and debris in the pit can jam the float or the impeller, and a pump that has not been tested in a long time may not start when the water rises.

A sump that is the right size for a dry day may not be the right size for a wet season. The report notes whether the pit and pump appear to have been overwhelmed, because the answer decides whether a bigger pump, a second pump or better drainage is the right repair.

Is a battery backup the same as a working pump?

A battery backup keeps a sump working when the power fails, but it is only a backup. It does not fix a failed pump, a blocked discharge line or a sump that is too small for the inflow. A battery that has been left unchecked may also be flat when it is needed.

Homeowners often install a backup and assume the sump is protected. A backup is a second line of defense, and it should be tested on the same schedule as the primary pump.

The crew checks the backup where it can be reached safely and notes whether it appears to be working. The report makes clear whether the cellar's protection depends on the primary pump alone.

How can a homeowner tell whether the pit is working?

A working pit fills, the float lifts, the pump starts and the water drops back down, then the cycle repeats. A pit that stays full, runs without stopping, or does not start at all is a sign of a problem with the pump, the float, the switch or the inflow.

Watch the pit during a heavy rain or after a thaw. If the pump cycles normally and the water does not rise above the floor, the system is coping. If the water rises past the pit's lip or the floor joint, the system is not coping.

Keep the pit clear of sediment and debris. A cover that is loose or missing can let debris in, and a float that rubs on the pit wall can stop working. The crew checks these during a visit and notes what needs attention.

What should a homeowner check after a pump failure?

After a failure, check that the pump is plugged into a working outlet and that the breaker has not tripped, make sure the float moves freely, and confirm the discharge line runs clear to the outside. Record what you see with dated photographs before anything is changed.

Do not open the electrical box or the motor housing yourself. A pump that has been in water can give a shock, and a repair should be made by a qualified person who can check the wiring safely.

Keep the photographs, the readings and the crew's report with the rest of the flood record. They show when the pump stopped and what the water did in the cellar, which is the information a repair contractor and an insurer will need.

Options

Types and options for sump pump failure water damage

Pump stopped or failed

A pump that has stopped may have a failed motor, a stuck float or a tripped breaker. The crew checks each part it can reach safely and reports what it finds. Replacing the pump is a repair job, and the report tells the homeowner what should be looked at first.

Pump overwhelmed by inflow

A pump that runs without stopping is often overwhelmed. The water arriving at the pit is more than the pump can move, which is common when meltwater or heavy rain saturates the ground around the house. The report notes how the pit behaved during the event.

Discharge line blocked or frozen

A discharge line that is blocked, kinked or frozen at the outlet stops the water leaving the house even when the pump runs. The crew checks the line from the pump to the outlet and records where it is restricted, so the repair can be targeted.

Linn County

Why sump pump failure water damage is different in Eastern Iowa

Cedar Rapids basements that have a sump are protected only as far as the pump can keep up. A pump failure in this city is handled as a basement flood, with the pump checked, the water removed and the entry point traced, but the pump repair itself goes to a qualified contractor.

The City of Cedar Rapids says the 2008 flood water reached about 10 square miles, or 14 percent of the city, and that the crest was 31.12 feet. A sump sized for an ordinary season may not cope with a river that reaches the 2008 level. A homeowner should ask a contractor whether the pit and pump are the right size for the lot.

The City of Cedar Rapids keeps a building and floodplain office that answers questions about floodplain land and repairs. A homeowner who is rebuilding or changing the drainage of a cellar should ask that office what applies to the property before work is started.

One call and it gets handled.

A crew is dispatched as fast as one is available, and you approve the estimate before any work starts.

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Where we work

Sump Pump Failure Water Damage across Linn County

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Related
Guides

Read before you book

Spring Snowmelt and Basement Water in Iowa

Spring snowmelt brings basement water when thawing ground and melting snow saturate the soil around a foundation, and the water finds joints, cracks, window wells or a sump that cannot keep up.

FAQ

Sump Pump Failure Water Damage FAQs

How do I know if my sump pump has failed?

A failed pump may make no sound at all, may hum without starting, or may run without stopping. If the pit is full and the water is rising in the cellar, the pump is not keeping up or has stopped. Call the line and do not wait for the water to drop on its own.

Should I replace the sump pump myself?

Replacing a sump pump involves electrical work and a pit that may hold contaminated water, so it is a job for a qualified person. The restoration crew will pump and dry the cellar, and it can report the condition of the pump so the right repair can be planned.

Will the restoration crew replace the pump?

No. The crew removes the water, dries the cellar, checks the pump and the pit and writes down what it finds. Replacing or repairing the pump is a separate job for a plumber or a qualified contractor, and the report gives that contractor a starting point.

What if the power is out and the pump cannot run?

Water can rise quickly in a pit with no power. If there is a battery backup, check it. If there is none and the water is rising, call the line and move valuables off the cellar floor if the stairs are dry and safe to use. Do not run a generator inside the house.

Can a sump pump problem cause mold?

Yes, if water stays in the cellar or in the walls and the space does not dry. Mold can start within a short time in damp conditions. The crew dries the cellar to readings and reports any growth it sees, and the mold page describes the next steps.

How can I keep the pit from failing again?

Clean the pit, test the float, check the discharge line and keep the outlet clear of snow and ice. A qualified contractor can look at the size of the pump and whether a backup is needed. The crew's report notes what it found during the visit.

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