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Manhasset, NY
A sump pump that sits quietly for months has one job during a storm: keep water out of the lower level. When it fails at that moment, the basement can take on water fast. JPR Plumbing repairs sump pumps in Manhasset homes, along with the floats, check valves, and discharge lines that keep them working.
What to know
A sump pump sits in a pit below the basement floor. As water collects, a float or switch starts the pump, which pushes water out through a discharge pipe. A check valve on that pipe keeps the water from running back into the pit once the pump stops. A cover over the pit keeps debris out and the float free to move.
Failures usually come from one of four places: the switch, the motor, the check valve, or the discharge line. Some pumps simply wear out after years of service, while others were never large enough for the amount of water entering the pit during heavy rain. Because a pump can sit idle between storms, problems often go unnoticed until it is needed.
A pump that starts running more often than usual, or begins to make new noises, is worth having checked before it stops working altogether.
Water rising in the basement? stay out of standing water anywhere near outlets, cords, or appliances, and keep your hands out of the pit while the pump has power. If it is safe, move belongings to higher ground before calling. Do not walk through deep water in the basement.
If the float sticks, the switch fails, or power is lost, water keeps rising in the pit.
A jammed switch or a pump that cannot keep up may run constantly.
A blocked impeller or failing motor can stop water from moving.
Floats can snag on the pit wall or cord and stay in the wrong position.
Water drains back into the pit, so the pump cycles over and over.
The outside end of the pipe can clog with leaves, dirt, or ice.
Power, switch, pump, check valve, and discharge line are all checked.
Switches, valves, or the pump itself are replaced depending on the fault.
The pit is filled to confirm the pump starts, empties it, and shuts off.
When to call
The work depends on which part failed, the age of the pump, access to the pit, and the condition of the discharge line. A stuck float can be a quick fix, while a worn motor usually means a new pump. If the pump struggles in heavy rain, the plumber can discuss whether a different size or setup would suit the basement better. Before anything is replaced, you will know which part failed and the choices available.
Manhasset homes
Not every Manhasset home has a sump pump, but where one protects a finished lower level, a failure during a storm can damage flooring, walls, and stored belongings in a short time. Water from heavy rain and a high water table tends to reach the pit at the same time as everyone else’s, so a pump that has not been tested is a real risk. Checking it before the stormy months is the simplest protection.
FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center lets you look up your address and see the official flood map for the property.
Pour water into the pit until the pump starts. It should empty the pit and shut off on its own.
Make sure the discharge pipe outdoors is free of debris and directs water away from the foundation. Clear snow away from the outlet after winter storms.
Water that rises through a floor drain and smells of sewage is a different problem, and the page on wastewater backing up into a basement explains what to do. For other plumbing needs, see the household repairs we take care of in Manhasset.
Homeowners in Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Plandome, Flower Hill, and Munsey Park can reach us the same way.
Questions
Several times a year and before the stormy season. Fill the pit with water and watch the pump cycle on and off.
A failed check valve, a float set too low, or a small pit can all cause frequent cycling.
Yes. A cover keeps debris and objects out of the pit and away from the float.
A standard pump will stop. If your basement depends on it, ask about backup options before the next storm.
No. Plenty of houses get by without a pump. Pumps are usually installed where water tends to collect under or around the basement, and a plumber can tell you whether yours is working as it should.
For more background, see our article on submersible and pedestal pumps compared, along with a separate piece about a dry sump pit after storms.
Reach us at (833) 603-1840, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Let us know whether the pump hums, runs nonstop, or does nothing, and how high the water is.
