Sump pumps and battery backups in Lexington, KY
Spring and summer storms are when a pump has to work, and sometimes when the power goes out. Here is what a dependable setup includes.
A sump pump sits in a pit at the low point of the basement, collects water from drains or from under the slab, and pumps it out through a discharge line when a float switch rises. A battery backup pump sits beside it and takes over if the main pump fails or loses power. For Lexington homeowners with a drainage system, a history of water or valuables in the basement, a pump in good shape with a backup and a smart discharge route is what keeps a storm from becoming a flood.
Is your pump on its way out?
- It runs nonstop, even in dry weather
- It hums without moving water
- You hear water fall back into the pit after each cycle
- The float catches on the pit wall or cord
- It's noisy, trips the breaker or smells hot
- There's no backup and the basement has finished space
What makes a good setup?
- The right primary pump. Submersible or pedestal, sized for what your pit takes on in a stormy May, not a dry September.
- A check valve so pumped water doesn't drain back into the pit.
- A backup pump on its own battery, or a second pump on a separate circuit.
- A high-water alarm that sounds before the floor gets wet.
- A sealed lid that keeps out debris and keeps pit moisture out of the air.
Where should the water go?
Onto ground that drains away from your house and your neighbor's, and not into a sinkhole. University of Kentucky Extension guidance is plain that sinkholes shouldn't be used for disposal, and the Kentucky Geological Survey explains that sinkholes flood when more water reaches them than their underground outlet can carry, or when the outlet clogs with sediment and debris. A discharge line aimed at a sinkhole can feed both problems. Keep pump water out of the sanitary sewer too: Lexington's 2008 settlement with the U.S. EPA called for more than $290 million in sewer improvements to stop overflows of untreated sewage, and clean groundwater only adds to that load.
What drives the price?
- New pit or replacement in an existing pit
- Pump type and capacity, plus backup and alarm
- Discharge length and whether it runs underground
- A dedicated outlet or other electrical work, which Kentucky requires an electrician with a state license to handle
Prices come from the company you're connected with after a site visit. We don't set or quote them.
Where we can connect you
Common questions
Do I need a battery backup sump pump in Lexington?
If your basement is finished or holds things you can't easily replace, a backup is worth considering. Strong storms that knock out power are often the same storms that fill the pit.
Can my sump pump drain into a sinkhole?
It's best not to. University of Kentucky Extension advises against using sinkholes for disposal, and extra water and sediment can contribute to sinkhole flooding or clogging.
How long do sump pumps last?
It varies with the pump and how hard it works. Testing it a few times a year by filling the pit with water is the easiest way to catch a failing pump.
Related services
- Basement drainage systems
- Foundation crack sealing
- Crawl space encapsulation
- Downspouts and surface drainage
More on sinkholes, permits and local rules: Fayette County karst basement guide.
Water at the footing, a leaking crack, or a crawl space that smells?
Call and a waterproofing company that works in the Bluegrass will come find the source.