24/7 Sump Pump Emergency First-Aid Kit (Start Here)
First, follow these steps to determine whether your sump pump situation is an emergency or something easily fixable.
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Is water flowing from the outside discharge pipe? This step will require you going outdoors to inspect the sump pump discharge. If the water is flowing properly, your sump pump is working as it should and may not be the source of your problem after all.
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Remove any discharge extensions. Many people have extension hoses installed on their sump discharges. This has the undesired consequence of reducing water flow through the sump pump. In an emergency situation, you will need to remove these extensions.
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Is the power out in your home? Unless you have a back-up generator or a battery backup sump pump, your pump will not operate without power.
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Check the circuit breaker: If you have power everywhere else in your home, the next place to go is the sump pump’s circuit breaker. Go ahead and turn it off, then switch it back on.
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Check the float switch: Look inside the sump pump crock and make sure the on-off float is unimpeded.
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Don’t panic! Schedule a service or keep reading below.
Same-Day Sump Pump Repair & Replacement
FAQ: Sump Pump Emergency Scenarios
Some peace of mind while you wait for your personal sump-pump superhero.
If you’re having an emergency sump pump problem where the sump pump is running, but not keeping up with the rain, your immediate options are unfortunately limited. Here is what you can do:
- Remove any sump discharge pipe extensions to try and increase flow.
- Monitor the situation.
- After the storm passes, call and have one of our plumbers out to evaluate adding a second pump to the system. This can prevent future failures during heavy rainfall.
There are some high-groundwater areas in SE Wisconsin that can have serious water infiltration if the sump pump fails. However, most basements will NOT completely flood, even if the sump pump is dead or struggling to keep up!
Probably not. However, there are other concerns besides your sump crock.
It’s more likely that the drain tile may fill up with water. You should also keep an eye on the stone area under the basement flooring.
If you’re in the middle of a power outage and relying on a battery backup sump pump, that extra battery power should last between 1-2 hours.
A common misconception is that wet basement walls mean a failed sump pump. This is rarely the case. Your sump pump is effectively not even involved in the plumbing system until water reaches it. If your basement walls are wet, you should instead check on your downspouts and general grading around the home.
However, accumulated moisture or water pooling around the base of the sump pump is almost certainly related to a leak, probably from the sump pump itself. In this case, check your surroundings to pinpoint the source of the stray water.
After-Hours FAQ: When Your Sump Pump Simply Can’t Wait for Service
Most sump pump problems can’t be solved overnight due to a lack of after-hours resources, including technicians, special parts, and manufacturer support. Thus, most customers prefer to save money on emergency fees by waiting until the next business day for repairs.
If your sump pump situation demands immediate attention, Team Austin is here for you. Please read the following before booking.
After-hours service appointments are limited. If there aren’t any open slots when you check, then we suggest you book the next available appointment–even if that means waiting 1-2 days.
Remember: It is virtually always better to wait 12, 24 or even 36 hours for one of our experts to attend to you than to solicit companies who offer no guarantee of success for exorbitant fees.
After-hours dispatch fees are charged on every service call dispatched outside our posted business hours, regardless of external factors or circumstances.
All warranties made by Austin Plumbing, Heating & Air are valid during normal business hours only. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to you.
If there is an issue you believe is under warranty or related to recent work, and it’s not something that can wait for normal business hours, we are happy to come out after-hours (subject to availability). However, please keep in mind that dispatch fees will apply and an immediate solution is not guaranteed.
Can Austin reimburse me if I have to go to another company for after-hours repair work?
If our schedule is full, and you have an issue you believe is under warranty or related to recent work that cannot wait, please go ahead and call another company who can attend to you faster.
If management determines that the above conditions apply, Austin Plumbing, Heating & Air will reimburse you for up to $250 of the after-hours repair cost you were made to pay in our absence.
To claim your reimbursement, please contact us during business hours and ask for a manager to help you submit your after-hours invoice. It pains us to be busy when you need help–this is our way of easing your burden even when we can’t be there.
If you need 24/7 ER service for your sump pump, you can always check our availability online, which is constantly being updated. Click here to book a service easily in real time!
Team Austin Emergency Contact Information
Phone hours: M-F 7am-5pm | Sat. 8am-12pm