In Dunwoody, a failing sump pump usually has a float that won't lift, a check valve that leaks back, a tripped circuit or a motor at the end of its life. A plumber can fix the problem and route the discharge to the yard rather than the DeKalb County sewer. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
Dunwoody homes
Dunwoody combines the Perimeter Center business district with established neighborhoods around historic Dunwoody Village and Georgetown. About 44% of housing was built before 1980, with the 1970s alone accounting for roughly 28%, per census survey data. Many of those homes have basements or crawl spaces with pumps that have been replaced once or never. DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management provides water and sewer; DeKalb owns the line through the meter and the homeowner owns the rest. Groundwater from a sump pump should never be piped into the house drain, since it ends up in DeKalb's wastewater system. In older homes, it's common to find a pump that empties into a laundry sink because that was the easiest route, and rerouting it outdoors is often part of a repair.
Steps to take now
- Cut power to the pump at the panel if water is near the outlet. Stay out of water around electrical cords.
- With power off, check the float. Free it if it's caught on the basin wall or the cord.
- Turn power back on. If the pump hums but moves no water, stop and leave it off.
- Check the outdoor end of the discharge line for clogs or a disconnected section.
- Move stored items and rugs away from the pit.
- Note how long the pump has been running and whether a GFCI outlet has tripped.
- If water keeps rising, call for a plumber.
What the symptoms usually mean
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Basin full, no motor sound | Float stuck, outlet tripped or motor failed |
| Long run times, little water moving | Worn impeller or partly blocked discharge |
| Rapid cycling | Bad check valve or float adjustment |
| Water rushing back into the pit | Check valve failure |
| Musty smell, damp walls | Pump falling behind or discharge too close to the house |
Cost factors
- Part repair versus replacing an older pump
- Basement finish or crawl space access
- Rerouting a discharge tied into a household drain
- Battery backup; a water-powered unit may fall under DeKalb's annual backflow testing
- A single-trade component permit, which Dunwoody requires before stand-alone plumbing repairs begin
- A high-water alarm for a pit that sits out of sight
Sump Pumps questions in Dunwoody
Do I need a permit to replace or add a sump pump?
Could the water under my house be a plumbing leak rather than groundwater?
How do I keep the pit from overflowing when the power goes out?
Can the sump discharge go into a floor drain, laundry sink or sewer cleanout?
More plumbing services in Dunwoody
Sump Pumps nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Dunwoody housing by year built (via Point2Homes)
- Dunwoody, Georgia (Wikipedia)
- DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM): water service
- DeKalb County DWM is responsible for the service line from the water m: service line ownership
- DeKalb County DWM backflow prevention program: assemblies required at : backflow prevention
- City of Dunwoody Community Development - Permits & Inspections: permits
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