Why this matters
Snowmelt and spring rain push groundwater into the weeping tile around your foundation, and the sump pump lifts it out. Many Markham homes built since the 1980s rely on these pumps. If the pump has seized over a quiet winter, water rises through the pit and onto the basement floor.
What to check
| Part | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Power | Plugged in, outlet working, breaker on |
| Float | Moves freely without catching the pit wall |
| Check valve | No water falling back after the pump stops |
| Discharge | Clear of ice, ending well away from the house |
| Backup | Battery charged; test button works |
The night a sump pump quits is almost always the night it is raining hardest.
Step by step
- Lift the cover off the crock and check for stones, silt or a stray toy.
- Pour a bucket of water slowly into the pit until the float lifts.
- Listen: the pump should start promptly and empty the pit in seconds.
- Watch the water level after it stops; it should not rise from water falling back.
- Go outside and check where the discharge comes out.
- Press the backup system’s test button if you have one.
Handing it over to us
Phone us when it stays silent, hums without lifting water, clicks on and off rapidly, or has two decades behind it. See sump pump repair and battery backups. If water gets past it anyway, the basement flood checklist takes you through the cleanup.
Markham note: village-core houses tend to hide cast iron and galvanized behind plaster, while Cornell and Box Grove builds run PEX to a manifold. We ask the year your house was built so the right fittings ride along on the truck.
Straight from the phone log
When should the bucket test be done?
Each spring and fall, and before a forecast of heavy rain.
My pump kicks on every few minutes. Should I worry?
During melt or heavy rain, yes. In dry weather, frequent cycling suggests a problem.
Ready to get it fixed?
One call, a clear explanation, and work finished tidily before we leave.