
Sump Pump Repair
If the pit is filling and the pump isn't moving water, kill the breaker to it and call, because a motor fighting a jammed impeller can fail outright.
When this becomes an emergency
- Standing water under the house after a run of rain.
- A pump that hums but doesn't move any water.
- A pump cycling on and off every couple of minutes.
- A discharge line outside that stays dry while the pit stays full.
What a pro does
Around here the pump is usually sitting in a crawlspace rather than a basement, which changes both the failure modes and the access. The plumber gets under the house, checks whether the float can actually swing free, and tests the switch separately from the motor, since a pump that hums without pumping is telling a different story from one that won't start at all. Then he follows the discharge line all the way out. That's where a surprising number of these calls end, with a line that's crushed, disconnected under the crawlspace, or running uphill to a spot that floods anyway during the same storm that filled the pit. Alabama rain comes hard and fast, several inches in an afternoon, so a pump sized for ordinary seepage gets overrun. He'll look at whether the pit is deep enough, whether the check valve is holding, and whether the grading and gutter runoff outside are feeding the problem in the first place. Fixing water that shouldn't be arriving usually beats fixing the pump that's tired of moving it.
Frequently asked questions
Keep going
disclaimer: Plumbers of Alabama is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service providers. All contractors/providers are independent and Plumbers of Alabama does not warrant or guarantee any work performed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to verify that the hired contractor furnishes the necessary license and insurance required for the work being performed. All persons depicted in a photo or video are actors or models and not contractors listed on Plumbers of Alabama.
Same-day and 24/7 emergency services are subject to provider participation, location, technician availability, and demand. Availability is not guaranteed and may vary by market and appointment capacity.
We use cookies and session-based analytics, including session replays (with form inputs masked), to improve this site. See our Privacy Policy.
About · Contact · Privacy · Terms · Disclosure · Sitemap
© 2026 Plumbers of Alabama. All rights reserved.