Water is rising in the pit: what to do first
Stay out of a flooded basement if water has reached outlets, appliances or the electrical panel. Standing water and electricity together can kill, so leave the cutoff to the utility or an electrician when in doubt.
If the floor is dry and safe, lift the lid and check the pump. A float stuck against the wall of the pit is the most common cause and sometimes a nudge restarts the pump. If it does not start, unplug it and call us.
- Do not wade into water that touches the panel, outlets or appliances.
- Check that the pump is plugged in and the outlet breaker is not tripped.
- Lift the float by hand, since a free float should switch the pump on.
- Bail or wet-vac the pit if the water is low and the area is safe.
- Move stored items off the floor and photograph the water line for your insurer.
Sump pump versus ejector pump
A sump pump removes groundwater that gathers in a pit at the lowest point of the basement, and it discharges outside the house. An ejector pump moves wastewater from a basement bathroom or laundry up to the sewer line, in a sealed basin.
The two look alike and fail differently. A sump pump failure floods with clean groundwater. An ejector failure backs up sewage, which is a health hazard and needs prompt professional cleanup.
If your basement has a bathroom, find out which pump you have and where the alarm is. Our sewer line repair service handles the line an ejector discharges into.
Why pumps fail
Most failures are predictable. This table sets out what we usually find and what puts it right.
| What happened | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pump never starts | Dead switch, stuck float or no power | Replace the switch or float, restore power. |
| Pump runs and does not pump | Clogged intake or failed check valve | Clear the screen, replace the check valve. |
| Pump cycles constantly | Float set wrong or a bad check valve | Reposition the float, replace the valve. |
| Pump is loud or hot | Worn bearings or a motor near the end | Replace the pump. |
| Pit overflows in a storm | Undersized pump, power loss or frozen discharge | Upsize, add a battery backup, clear the line. |
Groundwater near Westborough's ponds and headwaters
Westborough holds the headwaters of the Sudbury and Assabet rivers, along with Lake Chauncy, Sandra Pond and Hocomonco Pond. A town with this much surface water can have groundwater that rises seasonally in some neighborhoods.
That is a general point and not a prediction for your address. If your basement has ever been damp after snowmelt or a heavy rain, assume a sump pump matters, and ask us whether the pit, the pump and the discharge are sized for it.
Choosing and sizing a new pump
Pumps are rated by horsepower and by how many gallons per hour they move at a given lift. A one-third horsepower unit suits many homes, and a larger half-horsepower pump suits deep pits, long discharge runs or heavy inflow.
A cast iron pump body dissipates heat better than plastic, and a vertical float switch fits a narrow pit. A check valve on the discharge keeps water from falling back into the pit after each cycle.
We size the pump to the pit and the lift, and we run it with water before we leave.
A backup plan for the storm that kills the power
The storms that flood basements are often the ones that cut the power. A backup removes that single point of failure.
- Install a battery backup pump that runs when the main pump or the grid fails.
- Add a high-water alarm that sounds before the pit overflows.
- Test the pump twice a year by pouring in a bucket of water.
- Keep the discharge pipe clear of snow, ice and leaves in winter.
- Know where your main water valve is, since a burst pipe can swamp a pit too.
Discharge, drains and the storm drain question
Where the pump discharges matters. Water should leave the house well away from the foundation and onto ground that slopes away, never into the sanitary sewer. Rules about connecting to a storm drain vary, so ask the Westborough Building Department.
Storm drain cleaning is a separate service for yards and catch basins. If water pools by the foundation after rain even with a working pump, our basement waterproofing page explains the next steps.
Service for neighboring towns
Our dispatch also covers Shrewsbury, where Lake Quinsigamond and the town's well fields are part of the local water picture. Pump repairs follow the same steps in any town, and the same storm can cut power across several communities at once.
What drives sump pump repair and installation cost
We give you a clear price before work starts. These factors move the number.
Standard homeowners policies often exclude groundwater flooding and sump pump failure unless an endorsement was added. Read your policy before a storm, and ask your insurer about water backup coverage.
Want your real number? Call and describe the pit and the pump.
A sump pump has one job, and it needs to do it on the worst night of the year. Call at the first sign of trouble, and ask about the backup while the pit is open.
Code and standards note. Where a sump pump discharges is regulated, and local rules vary by town. Ask the Westborough Building Department before you connect a discharge line to any drain, and use 248 CMR 10.00 as the plumbing reference.
Sump Pump Installation and Repair questions from Westborough homeowners
Yes. Dispatch answers 24 hours a day, every day, and same-day appointments are offered when available. Storm nights are busy, so call as soon as the pump stops.
Many pumps run for about seven to ten years, depending on how often they cycle. A pump that runs every few minutes wears sooner than one that runs a few times a month.
If your basement floods during storms that cut the power, yes. A backup runs only when the main pump or the grid fails, and a high-water alarm gives you notice.
No. Groundwater should not be routed into the sanitary sewer. Where the water goes outdoors, and any storm drain connection, depends on local rules, so ask the Westborough Building Department.
Then there may be an ejector pump in a sealed basin. If it fails, sewage can back up into the basement, so shut off water use and call right away.
Plumbing is regulated by the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. Use the Check a license tool on mass.gov before work starts.
Have a problem right now and want a plumber assigned? Call (508) 389-4045
Sump Pump Installation and Repair in Westborough, any hour
Describe the problem to dispatch and you get a clear price before work starts.