Sump Pumps in Ellicott City, MD
Groundwater, a hard rain, or an unforeseen plumbing leak can all be kept at bay by a sump pump you can count on. At Metcalf Plumbing, we are here to help homeowners with installation and repair work, in turn lessening the chance of standing water, ruined property, mold, or the kind of structural damage that is expensive to put right.
The Case for Sump Pumps
There is a reason these are necessary in our part of Maryland. With its wooded hills, valleys and streams, we see our share of intense rainfall. The way the land slopes will often send runoff to the lower end of a property, and saturated soil can put pressure on basement walls and foundations from the groundwater. Howard County has put considerable resources into flood mitigation for Historic Ellicott City and the surrounding neighborhoods given the severity of past flooding.
Typically, a sump pump is placed in a basin in the lowest corner of a basement or crawlspace. It takes in any water that has come through the foundation drainage and discharges it outside before there is a chance for it to pool on the floor.
Even if a home is not in a mapped floodplain, water in the basement is a possibility. Inadequate exterior drainage, a crack in the foundation, or clogged gutters can let water gather near the house. Then there is the matter of an older pump that simply cannot cope with a powerful Maryland storm.
Typically, a sump pump is placed in a basin in the lowest corner of a basement or crawlspace. It takes in any water that has come through the foundation drainage and discharges it outside before there is a chance for it to pool on the floor.
Even if a home is not in a mapped floodplain, water in the basement is a possibility. Inadequate exterior drainage, a crack in the foundation, or clogged gutters can let water gather near the house. Then there is the matter of an older pump that simply cannot cope with a powerful Maryland storm.
When to Call for Repairs
You should see the sump pump kick in as the float in the basin is lifted by the water. If it is running nonstop, making a grinding sound, or won’t start when it should, something is amiss. Rust, odd vibrations, and moisture in the basement are other red flags. A technician will look over the motor, the check valve, the power supply, and so on to see if the issue is a stuck switch, a clogged pipe, a pump that is undersized, or a frozen discharge line.
It is best to address these matters quickly; one does not want to find out the pump has failed in the middle of a big storm.
It is best to address these matters quickly; one does not want to find out the pump has failed in the middle of a big storm.
Battery Backup
Given that most primary pumps run on household current and severe weather has a way of knocking out the power just as the groundwater is coming up, a battery backup is wise. It offers another level of security if the main unit is without power or overwhelmed. We can test the system and tell you when the battery is due for a change, as well as if the basin can accommodate a secondary pump.
Sump Pump Services
We have an appreciation for Ellicott City, from the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum and the historic Main Street to a patio dinner at Manor Hill Tavern in the good weather. But the humid summers and thunderstorms mean you need reliable basement drainage all year round. Metcalf Plumbing is on hand for sump pump service throughout the city and Howard County. With proper maintenance and testing done in a timely fashion, the basement stays dry, and there is no worry when the next storm comes.