Water rising in the basement during a storm
If the pit is full and the pump is silent, check that it is plugged in and the breaker has not tripped. Stay away from standing water if outlets or the panel might be wet, and call an electrician or us for guidance. Never wade into a basement with water near live electricity.
A pump that runs constantly may be overwhelmed by a high water table, or its float may be stuck. Both are fixable, and a battery backup can keep the pit pumping when the power goes out in the same storm.
Pump will not start
A stuck float, a failed switch or a dead motor are the usual causes.
Runs nonstop
Water is coming in faster than the pump can move, or the check valve has failed.
Loud grinding
Debris or worn bearings are damaging the impeller.
Pit is dry and the floor is wet
Groundwater may be entering somewhere other than the pit.
How we repair or replace a sump pump
Check power and float
We test power, the float switch and the discharge line.
Inspect the pit
We look for debris, a cracked pit liner and a failed check valve.
Repair or replace
We fit a new switch or check valve, or a new pump if the motor is done.
Test under load
We fill the pit and confirm the pump cycles and discharges away from the house.
Pump quit?
Call the 24/7 line about sump pump repair and installation and we will book the next appointment that fits.
Pump options compared
| Type | Strength | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Submersible primary pump | Quiet and sits in the pit | Motor cannot be easily serviced |
| Pedestal pump | Motor stays above water and is easy to reach | Louder and more visible |
| Battery backup pump | Keeps pumping when the power is out | Battery needs testing and replacing |
| Water-powered backup | No battery needed | Needs municipal water pressure |
Your plumber recommends a setup after seeing the pit and the discharge.
What sump pump work costs and what changes it
You hear a clear price before work starts. A new float switch and a new pit with a backup system are far apart.
The factors:
Standard homeowner's policies often exclude groundwater flooding. A water backup endorsement may cover pump failure damage. Check with your agent, and we can describe the failure in writing.
Why sump pumps matter in the Tuscarawas Valley
Massillon sits in the Tuscarawas River valley, and the city's history includes serious spring floods. The levees, viaducts and straightened channel built between 1939 and 1951 were the city's answer to those floods. They protect against the river and not against groundwater, so basements still take on water during wet springs, especially near creeks like Sippo Creek.
In Perry Township, the 2025 comprehensive plan notes wetlands and 100-year floodplain in the northwest and stormwater runoff problems in the north-central and northeast areas. If your home sits near those areas, a reliable pump with a backup is a basic protection. Test the pump each spring by pouring a bucket of water into the pit and confirming it starts.
Pump connections, check valves and discharge piping are installed according to the maker's instructions and the standards in the Ohio Plumbing Code, OAC Chapter 4101:3.
Before we arrive
Sump pump questions
Yes. The line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Call, tell us what the pump is doing, and we book the next appointment, with same-day appointments offered when available.
Many last roughly seven to ten years, depending on how hard they work.
If your basement floods when the power goes out, yes. A backup keeps the pit pumping during a storm outage.
A stuck float, a failed check valve or a high water table can keep it cycling.
You hear a clear price before work starts. The pump, backup, pit condition, discharge and hour of the visit all matter.