Sump pump installation in Waterloo, Iowa
In a lot of Waterloo basements, the sump pump does the job the old footing drain connection used to do. It has to work every time.
A sump pump sits in a pit at the low point of the basement. Drain tile and groundwater feed the pit, a float switch starts the pump as the water rises, and the pump pushes the water up and out through a discharge pipe. If the pump fails during a downpour, or the power goes out in a storm, the pit overflows onto the floor. The pump, the switch, the backup and the outdoor line all need attention.
Why do so many Waterloo homes rely on a sump pump?
Because of the city's sewer work. Under a 2015 consent decree with the EPA and the State of Iowa, Waterloo must finish a footing drain removal program it had already started. Trade press reported in 2015 that nearly 1,000 homes in the first target area had disconnected foundation drains from the sanitary sewer and installed sump pumps. Water that once went down the sewer now has to be pumped out of the house.
When should a pump be checked or replaced?
- It runs nonstop, even in dry weather
- It hums or clicks but the water level doesn't drop
- The float catches on the pit wall, or the pit is full of silt and stone
- It rattles, smells hot or trips the breaker
- Nobody knows how old it is
What are the options?
- Primary pump. Submersible pumps sit in the water and run quieter; pedestal pumps stand above the pit and are easy to service. The pump should be sized to how much water your pit actually collects.
- Battery backup. A second pump on a battery takes over when the main pump fails or the power drops.
- High-water alarm. It warns you when the pit is filling faster than the pump can empty it.
- Sealed lid. A tight cover keeps debris out and cuts humidity and odor.
Where should the discharge go?
Outside, through a line that ends on ground sloping away from the house. Not into a floor drain, laundry sink or sewer cleanout. A University of Iowa student project for Waterloo found sump water running onto streets and neighbors' lots was causing ice and algae, so think about where the water ends up in January, too. Ask the company and the city what's allowed at your address.
What affects the price?
- Reusing the existing pit or digging a new one
- Pump type, plus any backup or alarm
- Discharge line length and whether it's buried
- Whether a dedicated outlet or other electrical work is needed
We don't quote prices, and nobody should quote you over the phone. A waterproofing company sets its price after walking the basement, looking at the walls, the floor joint and the sump pit, and checking the gutters, downspouts and grading outside. Until then, any number is a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is a battery backup sump pump worth it?
If you'd lose finished space or stored belongings to a flooded basement, or your power tends to drop in summer storms, it's worth a close look. The backup only runs when the main pump can't.
My sump pump empties into the floor drain. Is that OK?
It shouldn't. Clear water in the sanitary sewer is exactly what Waterloo's footing drain removal work is meant to stop. A waterproofing company or plumber can reroute the line outdoors.
Related services
- Interior drain tile
- Foundation crack repair
- Exterior waterproofing
- Window wells, downspouts and grading
More background: Waterloo, Iowa basement water guide.
Damp carpet along the wall, or a sump pump that cycles all night?
Call and a waterproofing company that works in Waterloo and Cedar Falls will come take a look.