Signs you need this
- Pump short-cycling or humming without moving water
- Water standing in the pit after rain
- Sewage pushing up through the floor drain
- Check valve slamming after every cycle
Kit on the van, and the method
- Pit liner, check valve and union fittings
- Float switch and alarm tester
- Wet vac and pump-out hose
- Backwater valve access-lid tools
Before we leave: Hose-fill the crock until the float lifts, then time a full start, empty and shut-off cycle.
Diagnosing by behaviour
| What it does | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Will not start, pit full | Stuck float, tripped GFCI, dead motor | Free the float, reset or replace outlet, replace pump |
| Hums, no water moves | Jammed impeller, frozen discharge, seized motor | Clear debris, thaw the line, replace pump |
| Runs and runs | Float stuck high, failed switch, check valve missing | Adjust or replace switch, fit check valve |
| Cycles every minute | Pit too small, check valve leaking back | Replace check valve, reset float range |
| Loud clunk on shut-off | Check valve slamming | Fit a quiet spring-loaded check |
What we check on every call
We start with power, because a tripped ground-fault outlet causes a surprising number of failures. Then we lift the pump to look at the intake screen and impeller for gravel and silt. Many pits in newer Whitby homes collect fine sediment from the drainage stone around the footing, and it settles exactly where the pump draws. We test the float through its whole travel, and walk outside to see the discharge, which in winter can be blocked by ice where it exits the wall.
Repair or replace
A float switch, check valve or discharge section is a sensible repair on a pump that is otherwise healthy. A motor that is seized, overheating or nearing a decade of service is better replaced, and we size the new one by measuring the vertical lift and the pipe run, rather than copying the old label.
After the repair
- Clean the pit and remove loose stone.
- Pour water in until the pump runs twice.
- Check that the discharge reaches the yard and drains away from the house.
- Consider a high-water alarm, which costs little and gives early warning.
Pairing a repaired pump with a battery backup covers power outages. New installations are explained on sump pump installation.