Sump pump systems in Lancaster, PA
A pump is only as good as its pit, its switch, its backup and the place its water ends up. Here is what to ask about each.
A sump pump system collects groundwater in a pit at a low point in the basement and pumps it outside before it can rise over the floor. It's for Lancaster County homeowners who are adding drainage, replacing a pump that's failing, or tired of watching the pit during every thunderstorm. A properly sized pump with a check valve, a backup and a well-placed discharge line keeps the basement dry when it matters most.
Is your pump telling you something?
- It runs constantly or cycles every minute in wet weather
- It hums but the water level doesn't drop
- You hear water rush back into the pit when it shuts off
- The float sticks or the pit is full of silt and stone
- It trips the breaker, rattles or smells hot
- It has never been replaced and nobody knows its age
What goes into a good system?
- The pit and liner. A sealed lid keeps debris out and keeps damp air from the pit out of the basement.
- The primary pump. Submersible pumps sit in the pit and run quieter; pedestal pumps sit above it and are easy to reach. Size should fit the volume your pit actually takes on in a wet spring, not a dry August.
- A check valve. It stops pumped water from falling back into the pit each cycle.
- A backup. A battery backup pump or a second pump covers failures and power outages during summer thunderstorms.
- An alarm. A high-water alarm warns you before the floor gets wet.
Where should the water go?
Away from the house, onto ground that drains and slopes away, and not all into one hole or low corner. Lancaster County sits on a lot of limestone and dolomite, and Pennsylvania's geological survey points to concentrated water as a common trigger for sinkholes. A discharge line that ends in the same spot for years can keep soaking the ground there. Spreading the outlet, using a splash area or swale, or tying into a planned stormwater feature are better choices. In Lancaster city, the sewer system carries sewage and stormwater in the same pipes and already overflows into the Conestoga River in heavy rain, so don't connect a sump to a floor drain or sewer line without checking with the city first.
What drives the price?
- Reusing an existing pit or cutting a new one
- Pump type and capacity, plus any backup and alarm
- Length and routing of the discharge line, above or below ground
- Whether a dedicated electrical outlet is needed
Pricing comes from the waterproofing company after it has seen the basement and the yard. We don't quote prices.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Should my sump pump drain into the sewer in Lancaster city?
Check with the city before connecting anything. Lancaster has a combined sewer system that overflows into the Conestoga River during heavy rain, and adding groundwater to it makes that worse.
Do I need a battery backup sump pump?
If you store anything valuable in the basement or your power goes out in storms, a backup is worth considering. It sits idle until the main pump fails or loses power.
How often should a sump pump be checked?
Many homeowners test it a few times a year by pouring water into the pit to make sure the float lifts and the pump empties it, and before the wet season.
Related services
- Stone foundation repair
- Interior perimeter drains
- Exterior excavation waterproofing
- Basement moisture and mold control
Background on soils, sinkholes and Pennsylvania contract rules: Lancaster County wet basement guide.
Stone walls weeping, a wet floor edge, or a pump that never rests?
Call and a Lancaster County waterproofing company will come find where the water gets in.