Sump Pump Installation and Repair in Northern Utah

Is your basement taking on water, or is your sump pump acting up?

A working sump pump keeps groundwater out of your basement or crawl space, so if water is showing up, or the pump hums, runs nonstop or never turns on, it needs a repair or a replacement. The pump sits in a pit, called a sump basin, at a low point in the basement floor or crawl space. In many homes, drain pipe around the foundation carries groundwater to that pit. When the water rises, a float switch turns the pump on, and the pump pushes the water outside through a discharge line. Around Northern Utah, spring snowmelt and heavy storms are when pumps work hardest. We repair, maintain and install sump pumps as part of our plumbing services.

Warning signs your sump pump needs service

It runs all the time or cycles on and off

A pump that never rests, or starts and stops every few moments, may have a stuck float switch, a failed check valve, or a pump too small for the water it is handling.

It hums but no water moves

A humming pump that does not empty the pit may have a clogged intake, a jammed impeller (the spinning part that moves water) or a motor that is failing.

Damp walls, musty air or water on the floor

Moisture along the bottom of basement walls, a musty smell or a wet carpet after a storm can mean the pump is falling behind or not running when it should.

Water pooling along the foundation outside

If the discharge line empties right next to the house, or has come apart, the same water can soak back in and return to the pit.

Common causes of sump pump trouble

A stuck or tangled float switch

The float rides up with the water and tells the pump when to start. If it catches on the pit wall or the power cord, the pump either never starts or never stops.

A failed check valve

The check valve lets water leave through the discharge line and keeps it from falling back into the pit. When it fails, the pump moves the same water over and over.

A frozen or blocked discharge line

In our cold winters, water sitting in the discharge line can freeze, and snow and ice can block the outlet. Then the pump has nowhere to send the water.

Power outages and worn motors

Storms can cut power right when the pit is filling fastest. Pumps that have run hard for many seasons also wear out and slow down.

What to expect from sump pump service

We book a visit during business hours and start with the whole setup: the pit, the pump, the float switch, the check valve and the discharge line, inside and out. We test the pump by filling the pit with water and watching it start, empty the pit and shut off. We also check where the water ends up outside.

Then we explain what we found and give you the price before any work starts. Many problems are simple repairs, like freeing a float, replacing a check valve or clearing a clogged intake. When a pump is worn out or too small for the job, we recommend a replacement sized for your pit and your water. If your home has never had a sump and water keeps finding its way in, we can talk through whether adding one makes sense.

Battery backup pumps

A battery backup pump sits beside the main pump and takes over if the power goes out or the main pump fails. For a finished basement, it is worth a conversation.

Simple care between visits

A few times a year, pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump starts and shuts off on its own. Keep the lid on the pit, keep the discharge outlet clear of snow and ice in winter, and make sure the water drains away from the foundation.

Repairs come with a warranty on parts and labor, and new installations come with a workmanship warranty. Our VIP Maintenance Plan costs $240 a year and includes one 2-hour visit a year covering an 88-point HVAC and plumbing inspection, a 1-inch filter replacement and a written report. Members get 10% off repairs plus priority scheduling.

Sump pump service across Northern Utah

We keep basements dry from our Brigham City base across the region, and several towns have their own sump pump page.

Box Elder County. Read about sump pumps in Brigham City, Perry and Tremonton. Town pages: Brigham City, Perry, Tremonton, Willard, Corinne and Mantua. Spring snowmelt can raise the groundwater around basement walls.

Cache Valley. Read about sump pumps in Logan and Hyrum. Town pages: Logan, Hyrum, Nibley, North Logan and Smithfield. Deep winter cold makes a frozen discharge line a common problem.

Weber and Davis County. Read about sump pumps in Ogden. Town pages: Ogden, North Ogden, South Ogden and Layton. Older homes with basements in established neighborhoods often have pumps that have run for many seasons.

Related services

A frozen discharge line is one of several winter plumbing problems covered on our frozen and burst pipe repair page. For a basement that stays damp even when the pump keeps up, see whole-house dehumidifiers. Sump pits are also one way soil gas enters a home, so ask about radon testing.

Schedule sump pump service

Call (435) 730-2536 Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, or schedule online. We offer free estimates on new system installations. Your Comfort Heating & Air is licensed and insured.