Test it. Do not assume it works.
Pour five gallons of water slowly into the sump pit and watch what happens. The float should rise, the pump should kick on, the pit should empty, and the pump should shut off cleanly without cycling again. If it hums without pumping, starts and stops rapidly, or runs on after the pit is empty, it needs attention now rather than during the first heavy October rain.
Des Plaines has a particular relationship with water. The Des Plaines River runs through the middle of town, several neighborhoods sit in or near its floodplain, and the housing stock leans toward mid-century ranches and split levels with finished lower levels that were not originally designed as living space. When a pump fails here, it usually fails in a room with carpet, drywall and furniture in it.
At Restoration By Simons, we respond to flooded basements in Des Plaines and help homeowners remove water, dry affected materials, and document the damage.
What Does a Real Sump Pump Check Include?
The pump is one part of a system. Check all of it.
The pit. Look inside with a flashlight. Gravel, silt, sediment and debris collect over time, and any of it can jam the float or clog the intake screen. Scoop it out.
The float. Move it by hand. It should travel freely through its full range without touching the pit wall, the discharge pipe, or the power cord. A float pinned against the pit wall, pipe, or power cord is a common reason a working pump fails to activate during a storm.
The check valve. This one-way valve on the discharge pipe keeps water from draining back into the pit after the pump shuts off. When it fails, the pump refills its own pit and cycles repeatedly, which burns out the motor months early. Listen for a distinct clunk right after shutoff, then silence.
The discharge line. Follow it outdoors. Confirm it is not crushed, disconnected at a joint, blocked by debris, or discharging within a few feet of the foundation. A pump that works perfectly and dumps water right back against the house is just moving water in a circle.
The power. Confirm the outlet is live and that the pump is not sharing a circuit with a freezer, a dehumidifier, or anything else that could trip it. A GFCI outlet that trips silently is a common and expensive surprise.
The age. Sump pump service life varies with pump quality, installation, and how often it runs. If you do not know its age or maintenance history, have it evaluated before relying on it during a storm.
Do I Really Need a Battery Backup?
If your lower level is finished, yes.
Storms and power outages arrive together. That is not bad luck, it is the same weather event. The moment you most need the pump running is frequently the moment the primary pump has no electricity. A backup system runs on a battery, or on household water pressure in the case of a water-powered unit, and buys you the hours until power returns.
Three things people get wrong about backups.
Backup batteries do not last indefinitely. Follow the manufacturer's testing and replacement guidance, and test the backup periodically by safely disconnecting power to the primary pump and confirming that the backup activates.
A backup is not a second primary. Most backup pumps move less water per minute than the main unit. They are meant to keep up with a normal inflow, not to handle a river.
Water-powered backups need adequate municipal water pressure and are not appropriate for homes on a well. They also use potable water while running, which shows up on the bill.
What Are the Warning Signs a Pump Is Failing?
- Running constantly, or cycling on and off every few seconds
- Humming or buzzing without moving water
- Visible rust, corrosion, or scale on the housing
- Vibration or rattling that was not there before
- The pit filling higher than it used to before the pump engages
- The pump running noticeably longer to clear the same amount of water
- Any burning smell near the unit
The Des Plaines River Factor
Homes near the river deal with a second problem that a sump pump alone cannot solve. When the river is high, groundwater across the surrounding area rises with it, and it can stay elevated for days after the rain stops. A pump sized for a normal storm may run continuously for seventy two hours.
Continuous running is exactly what kills pumps. Motors overheat, floats wear, check valves fatigue. If you live in a low lying part of Des Plaines, a second pump, a larger pump, or a properly sized backup is not an upgrade. It is basic equipment.
It also matters that river flooding and surface flooding are usually excluded from a standard homeowners policy and require separate coverage. This is general information, not insurance advice. Ask your agent how your policy treats surface water, sewer backup, and sump pump overflow before you need to know.
What Do I Do If the Pump Fails During a Storm?
Safety comes before water removal.
- Do not step into standing water that touches outlets, appliances, a furnace, or an electrical panel. If you cannot reach the breaker safely from a dry position, call an electrician or the utility.
- If it is safe, unplug the pump and check whether the float is stuck. This solves it more often than people expect.
- Photograph the water level and the affected areas before you move or remove anything.
- Get contents up off the floor if you can do it safely. Lift furniture onto blocks, move boxes out, pull up loose rugs.
- Do not use a household vacuum on water.
- Call for professional extraction if the water has reached carpet, padding, drywall, or finished flooring.
Water that has touched a floor drain or come up through the sewer line is a different category and needs professional cleanup with containment and disinfection.
Why Des Plaines Homeowners Call Restoration By Simons
Restoration By Simons is a minority- and woman-owned, family-operated restoration company serving Des Plaines and the greater Chicagoland area.
Our water damage work follows IICRC S500 standards for assessment, mitigation, drying, and documentation. We provide 24/7 emergency response for flooded basements, sump pump failure, sewer backup, seepage, mold concerns, and contents restoration.
Flooded Basement Help in Des Plaines
A sump pump test takes ten minutes. A flooded finished basement takes days to dry and weeks to rebuild. Check the pump, check the backup battery, clear the pit, and confirm the discharge line before the fall rain settles in.
If water has already reached your lower level, the faster it is extracted and the structure is dried, the less has to be removed.
Contact us when you need help with a flooded basement or sump pump failure in Des Plaines.
FAQ
How do I test my sump pump?
Pour about five gallons of water slowly into the pit until the float rises. The pump should start on its own, empty the pit, and shut off cleanly. Test it in spring and again in early fall.
How long does a sump pump last?
Most residential pumps run seven to ten years, less if the pump cycles frequently or runs for long stretches. If the age is unknown and the house is not new to you, plan on replacement rather than waiting for failure.
Why does my sump pump run constantly?
Common causes are a failed check valve letting water flow back into the pit, a stuck float, a high water table after prolonged rain, or a pump that is undersized for the inflow. Constant running shortens the life of the motor considerably.
What happens if the power goes out during a storm?
Without a backup system, the pump stops when power is lost and the pit may fill quickly. A properly sized battery or water-powered backup can keep pumping during an outage, but its capacity and operating requirements should match the home.
Can a frozen discharge line cause a backup?
Yes. If the exterior discharge freezes or is buried in snow, the pump runs against a blocked line, water returns to the pit, and the pump cycles until it fails. Check that the discharge is clear before winter and keep the outlet above expected snow depth.
Is sump pump failure covered by insurance?
Usually only with a specific endorsement, often called sump overflow or water backup coverage. Standard policies frequently exclude it. This is general information, not insurance advice. Confirm with your carrier.