
Sump Pump Repair
A sump pump that quits during a heavy storm lets water back up fast in whatever space it's supposed to be protecting, so a pump that's acting up is worth checking before the next big rain, not after.
When this becomes an emergency
- The pump running constantly even during a dry stretch with no rain.
- Standing water under the house or around a crawlspace access point after a storm.
- A pump that's gone quiet while water is still visibly collecting in the pit.
- A burning smell or unusual grinding sound from the pump itself.
What a pro does
Basements aren't common in this part of Texas, so a sump pump here usually isn't protecting a finished basement the way it might in a colder region. Most of the time it's tied to a crawlspace on an older pier-and-beam home, a low-lying section of yard with drainage that dead-ends somewhere, or a French drain system routed to a discharge point. A plumber starts by watching how the pump actually cycles, since a pump that runs nonstop, one that never kicks on, and one that short-cycles every few seconds each point to a different failure. The float switch gets checked first, since it's the most common point of failure and the cheapest to replace. Heavy spring and early summer storms are when a marginal pump gets exposed, especially one running without a battery backup, since losing power right as the pit fills fastest is exactly the wrong moment for a pump to go quiet.
Frequently asked questions
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