If your sump pump has stopped and water is rising in the pit or on the floor, start with safety: stay out of any water near outlets, cords, the furnace or the electrical panel. Then work out whether the pump has lost power, is running without moving water, or has failed outright, protect what you can, and call a plumber and your insurer. In Maple, Woodbridge and around Lake Wilcox in Oak Ridges, a spring thaw or a heavy storm is exactly when an ageing pump tends to give out.
The first half hour: safety, then the basics
- Water near anything electrical? Do not walk into it, and do not reach for a breaker while standing in water. Call your electricity utility to have the power cut safely, or 911 if anyone is at risk.
- Floor dry where you stand? Check that the pump is plugged in. If it is on a GFCI outlet whose reset button has popped and everything around it is dry, pressing it once is reasonable. If it trips again, leave it off. That points to a fault in the pump or circuit, and it is a job for a professional.
- Do not reach into the pit while the pump is plugged in, and do not run extension cords across a wet floor.
- Look at the floor drain. If water is coming up through the drain rather than in at the walls or the pit, that is more likely a sewer backup. Stop running water, flushing and doing laundry until a plumber has looked at it.
- Protect what you can. Move belongings off the floor and take photos before you clean up. If a finished basement is getting wet, call your home insurer.
Planning work like this? Tell us about it and we will connect you with one independent local contractor. Free, and no obligation.
Why sump pumps fail in a thaw or a heavy rain
Snowmelt and spring rain raise the water table, and the pump that sat quiet all winter suddenly has to run hard. That is when weak points show up:
- Power cuts. The storm that floods the pit often takes out the power too, and the main pump stops just when it is needed.
- A stuck float switch. The float can jam against the side of the pit or on debris, so the pump never gets the signal to start.
- A frozen or blocked discharge line. Early in the thaw, the outdoor end of the discharge pipe can still be frozen or buried in ice. The pump runs, but the water has nowhere to go. Never use a flame on the pipe.
- A failed check valve. Water falls back into the pit after every cycle, so the pump runs constantly and wears out sooner.
- A worn-out pump. Most houses in Maple went up between the 1980s and the 2000s, and a pump that has run every spring since then tends to fail without warning.
- More water than the pump can handle. Low-lying streets near Lake Wilcox in Oak Ridges sit on the Oak Ridges Moraine, where the water table can stay high well past spring.
In Woodbridge, many 1970s to 1990s homes have large finished basements, which raises the stakes. Water coming up through the floor drain is a different problem from water in the sump, and the fix for it is usually a backwater valve. Our sump pump and backwater valve page explains the difference.
Backups and upgrades worth asking about
Once the immediate problem is dealt with, it is a good moment to ask what would stop it happening again:
- A battery backup pump runs a second pump from a battery during a power cut. If your basement is finished, it is generally worth having.
- A water-powered backup uses municipal water pressure, so it can work for homes on city water in Maple, Woodbridge and most of Oak Ridges. It is not an option on a private well.
- A high-water alarm sounds, or sends a phone alert, before the pit overflows.
- A new check valve with the new pump, and a second pump if inflow is heavy.
- Discharge routing. Sump water should go outside and away from the foundation, not into the sanitary sewer. The City of Vaughan and the City of Richmond Hill set their own rules, so check yours.
If you are thinking about a generator, never run a portable one indoors or in a garage, because of carbon monoxide. Connecting one to your house wiring needs a proper transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician.
Checklist: what to note before you call
- Where the water is coming from: the pit, the walls and floor, or the floor drain.
- Whether the pump hums, runs without lowering the water, cycles every few seconds, or does nothing.
- Roughly how old the pump is, and whether it is original to the house.
- Whether the power has been out, and whether you have any backup pump.
- Whether the discharge line outside looks frozen, buried or blocked.
- Whether the basement is finished, and roughly how much water is on the floor.
- Photos of the pit, the pump and any damage.
When to call a plumber
Call as soon as the pump has stopped, will not keep up, or keeps tripping its outlet. A pump that runs constantly in dry weather, cycles every few seconds, or hums without pumping is also worth having looked at before the next storm rather than during it. If water is still coming in and damage is spreading, our emergency plumbing page covers what to do first.
When the plumber gets in touch, and what they charge for after-hours work, is their decision. The cost of the repair itself depends on a few things:
- Whether it is a like-for-like pump replacement or a larger pump.
- The condition of the pit and whether it needs a new liner or lid.
- Whether a check valve, backup pump or alarm is added at the same visit.
- Whether the discharge line has to be rerouted or protected from freezing.
- Access in a finished basement.
Every house is different, so ask the plumber to explain what is driving their price. Homes elsewhere in Vaughan and Richmond Hill run into the same spring problems.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my sump pump running but the pit is still full?
The usual causes are a frozen or blocked discharge line, a failed check valve letting water fall back, or a worn pump that no longer moves enough water. In a very wet spring, inflow can also simply be more than the pump can handle. A plumber can tell which one it is.
Should I replace my sump pump before it fails?
If it is original to a house built in the 1990s or 2000s, it is worth having it checked. There is no fixed lifespan, but pumps that work hard every spring often wear out within ten years or so, and replacing one on your schedule is far less trouble than drying out a finished basement.
Does home insurance cover a flood from a failed sump pump?
It depends on your policy. Sewer backup and groundwater or overland water are often covered separately, if at all. Call your insurer, and take photos before you clean anything up.
If your sump pump has failed or you want a backup before the next thaw, the short form is free to use and sends your request to one local plumber who covers your town.