Sump Pump Problems — Repair & Replacement in BC

Emergency

A failed pump during a storm floods a basement in minutes. Treat a dead or overloaded pump as urgent.

Signs you have this problem

Pump running constantly, even in dry weather
Rapid on-off cycling every few seconds
Pump silent with water rising in the basin
Loud grinding, rattling or humming without pumping
Water discharging and then flowing straight back into the pit

What usually causes it

Too much water arriving

A failed or blocked perimeter drain sends everything to the sump. The pump is not faulty — it is being asked to do the drain's job.

Float, switch or check-valve failure

Stuck floats, worn switches and failed check valves are the most common mechanical faults, and a bad check valve makes discharged water drain right back into the pit.

Discharge and power problems

A blocked, frozen or too-short discharge line has nowhere to send water, and storms that knock out power take unbacked pumps with them.

Wrong size or worn out

Pumps have a service life of roughly seven to ten years, and an undersized unit will never keep up with a high water table.

How it gets fixed

1. Diagnose the load, not just the pump

A camera inspection of the perimeter drain shows whether the sump is compensating for a failed line. Replacing the pump without checking this just buys time.

2. Service or replace the unit

Float, switch and check-valve replacement handles most mechanical faults; a worn or undersized pump is replaced with one matched to the actual inflow.

3. Fix the discharge

Clearing and re-routing the discharge line, adding freeze protection and getting the outlet far enough from the house stops water recirculating.

4. Add redundancy

A battery or water-powered backup pump plus a high-water alarm keeps the basement dry when power fails mid-storm — exactly when it matters.

Sump Pump Problems — related work on site

Steel trench drain grate carrying rainwater off a concrete driveway — Surface and trench drainage

Sump pump basin with discharge piping and a high-water alarm — Sump and pump systems

High-pressure jetting of a catch basin and storm line — Catch basin and line flushing

Sump Pump Problems — before and after

Real examples of the problem and the finished result after the work is done.

Backyard lawn flooded with standing water after heavy rain — Standing water cleared from the yardCatch basins and a French drain carry rainfall away instead of pooling on the lawn.

The same backyard with a dry green lawn and a catch basin grate after drainage work — Standing water cleared from the yardCatch basins and a French drain carry rainfall away instead of pooling on the lawn.

Old clay perimeter drain tile collapsed and packed with roots and silt in a muddy trench — Failed drain tile replacedRoot-choked clay tile swapped for perforated pipe, filter fabric and clean drain rock.

New perforated perimeter drain pipe in clean drain rock beside a waterproofed foundation wall — Failed drain tile replacedRoot-choked clay tile swapped for perforated pipe, filter fabric and clean drain rock.

How a working drainage system protects a home

Rain runs off the roof, into the leaders, down through drain rock to the perimeter drain, then out to the storm connection or sump — keeping water off the foundation wall.

Services that solve this

Sump Pump Problems — quick answer

Sump pump problems fall into three groups: the pump runs constantly because groundwater or a failed perimeter drain is overloading it, it does not run because of a stuck float, failed switch or lost power, or it cannot keep up in a storm because it is undersized or the discharge line is blocked or frozen.

Key facts

Too much water arriving: A failed or blocked perimeter drain sends everything to the sump. The pump is not faulty — it is being asked to do the drain's job.
Float, switch or check-valve failure: Stuck floats, worn switches and failed check valves are the most common mechanical faults, and a bad check valve makes discharged water drain right back into the pit.
Discharge and power problems: A blocked, frozen or too-short discharge line has nowhere to send water, and storms that knock out power take unbacked pumps with them.
Wrong size or worn out: Pumps have a service life of roughly seven to ten years, and an undersized unit will never keep up with a high water table.
DRYHOMEBC covers 14 Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley cities: Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
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Sump Pump Problems FAQs

Why is my sump pump running constantly?

Either the groundwater table is genuinely high, the perimeter drain has failed and is dumping everything into the pit, the float is stuck on, or the check valve is letting discharged water flow back in. A camera inspection and a float test separate those quickly.

How long does a sump pump last?

Typically seven to ten years in Lower Mainland conditions, less if it cycles heavily every winter. Testing it each autumn before the rainy season and replacing it proactively is far cheaper than a flood.

Do I need a backup sump pump?

If your basement is finished, or gravity discharge is not possible on your lot, yes. Windstorms take out power exactly when the pump is working hardest, so a battery or water-powered backup and a high-water alarm are worth it.

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Drainage help by city

Drainage in Vancouver Drainage in Surrey Drainage in Richmond Drainage in New Westminster Drainage in Burnaby Drainage in Coquitlam Drainage in Port Coquitlam Drainage in Port Moody Drainage in Delta Drainage in Langley Drainage in White Rock Drainage in Maple Ridge Drainage in Abbotsford Drainage in Chilliwack

Sump Pump Problems — Running Constantly, Not Running, or Failing in Storms