Same-Day Service7 Days a WeekFree Estimate
Plumbers of Birmingham
Plumbers of Birmingham
Plumbing · Alabama
Call

Sump Pump Repair

If the pit is filling and the pump isn't clearing it, shut off the pump's breaker and call before the motor burns up trying.

Tap to Call(855) 321-3426

When this becomes an emergency

What a pro does

Basements on the slopes around Birmingham take water from uphill, not just from below, and that shapes the diagnosis. The plumber tests the switch and the motor separately, because they fail differently and only one of them is usually at fault. A float that's hung up on the pit wall or on the discharge pipe is a common find and an easy one. Then he traces the discharge from the check valve out to where it ends. Short cycling almost always comes back to a failed check valve letting the column of water in the pipe fall back into the pit, so the pump lifts the same gallon over and over. He'll look at the pit itself too, since one that's too shallow forces frequent cycling regardless of what pump sits in it. And he'll ask where the water is arriving from, because gutters dumping at the foundation on the uphill side of the house, or a grade that runs toward the wall, put more water into the pit than any pump should have to handle.

Frequently asked questions

Groundwater lags rainfall. Water soaking into the hillside above the house keeps arriving after the rain stops and drains through the soil for hours. A pump running during that window is doing its job, so the question is only whether it's keeping up.
Most often a check valve that isn't holding, which drops the water in the discharge pipe back into the pit each time the pump shuts off. The other frequent cause is a pit too small for the pump's cycle. Both make the pump work far more than the actual water requires.
It should end where the water won't come back, which on a sloped lot means downhill and well away from the foundation. A discharge that ends a few feet from the wall on the uphill side is putting the same water back into the ground it just came out of.
A pump on house current stops, which is a problem because storms that cause outages also fill pits. Battery backup systems exist for exactly this and are worth discussing if the basement is finished or if you've been caught out before.

Sump Pump Repair?

Get connected with a local pro now.

Tap to Call(855) 321-3426

Keep going

Plumbing in AlabamaBurst PipeClogged DrainDrain CleaningEmergency PlumberNo Hot WaterOverflowing ToiletPlumber Near MeSewer Line RepairSlab LeakWater Heater RepairWater Leak Repair

disclaimer: Plumbers of Birmingham is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service providers. All contractors/providers are independent and Plumbers of Birmingham 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 Birmingham.

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 Birmingham. All rights reserved.