Sump Pump Failure Water Damage Cleanup in Ashburn, VA

When the pit overflows

Sump pump failure cleanup is some of the most common work after a hard storm in Loudoun County. The pump is the only thing between groundwater and your finished basement, and when it stops the pit overflows within an hour or two of heavy rain.

Water from the pit is groundwater, so it carries dirt and bacteria and starts at Category 2. We pump out the room, remove porous materials that soaked it up, dry the basement and check the walls for hidden moisture. We also look at why the pump failed so it does not happen again on the next storm.

What the cleanup looks like

1. Get the pit working. If the pump is dead or the line is blocked, we help you clear it or set a temporary pump.
2. Extract the floor. Standing water is removed and carpet is extracted or pulled up.
3. Remove what soaked up water. Pad, damp drywall and wet insulation come out in a planned cut line.
4. Sanitize. Because this is Category 2 water, hard surfaces are cleaned and treated before drying.
5. Dry and verify. Equipment runs until readings match dry reference points in the same room.

Signs the pump failed or is struggling

• The pit is full and the pump is not running.
• The pump runs constantly in light rain.
• There is a gurgling or grinding sound.
• Water shows at the floor-wall joint during storms.
• The alarm sounds, if you installed one.
• The pump is older than most of the appliances in the house.

Battery backup, water-powered or generator

Sump pumps in eastern Loudoun clay

Eastern Loudoun has seasonal perched water tables over dense soil in some upland areas, according to the county soil survey data. After a long rain or snowmelt that water collects near the footing drain, and the pump may run for hours without a break. A pump that was sized for ordinary rain can fall behind in a storm that goes on all night.

Frozen discharge lines are the winter version of the same problem. If the outlet is buried or iced over, the pump runs but water just recirculates. See the Broadlands page for a pump check you can run before the next storm.

What a good sump setup looks like

A pump is only as good as its discharge. The line should run downhill and away from the foundation, end well outside the house and stay clear of kinks, clogs and a check valve that sticks. A basin with a tight, sealed lid keeps humidity out of the basement air. A float switch that moves freely and is not wedged against the side of the pit makes a quiet difference.

If your pump is more than about ten years old or has no backup, replacement is cheaper than the next cleanup. A plumber or sump specialist can size the pump to your pit and set up a battery or water-powered backup.

Cleaning up Category 2 water

Sump pit overflow is not clean. It carries soil, bacteria and chemicals from the yard. Carpet that has been soaked with it is usually replaced, and drywall that wicked up several inches is cut out. Hard surfaces such as concrete and tile are cleaned and treated before drying starts.

Because the water began outside the house, the cleanup includes a check of walls and baseboards that look dry. We use a meter on the bottom plate and the back of the drywall, since water that reached the wall cavity can stay there long after the floor has dried.

When it keeps happening

If a pit overflows once, it is bad luck. If it overflows every spring, something else is going on. The pump may be undersized, the discharge may drain back toward the house or the yard grading may send water into the footing zone. Gutters that dump next to the foundation and downspouts that end at the wall add to the load.

Fix the grading and the downspouts first, since they cost the least. Then look at the pump and its backup. We can tell you what we saw on the job, including how high the water got and where it entered, and a contractor can use that to size the fix.

Backup choices are compared in Sump Pump Backup Options When the Power Goes Out.

Common questions