An Austell sump pump usually stops working because the float sticks, the check valve leaks, the outlet trips or the motor wears out. A plumber can repair or replace it and route the discharge to the yard instead of the city's sanitary sewer. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Austell basics
Austell is a small south Cobb city that began as a healing-springs settlement and grew as a railroad depot town. It has a history of flooding, notably in 2009 along Sweetwater Creek, which makes a working sump pump and a backup worth taking seriously. Census survey figures put the median home at 1993, with about 41% built before 1980.
The City of Austell runs its own water system and maintains more than 51 miles of sanitary sewer, with wastewater sent to the Cobb County system for treatment. Many Austell-mailing addresses outside the city's service area are on Cobb County Water System instead. Either way, a sump pump shouldn't feed the sanitary sewer through a floor drain or laundry sink.
With about four in ten homes built before 1980, many Austell crawl spaces have pumps added long after construction, sometimes in a cracked basin or with a discharge line that ends at the foundation. Low-lying streets near the creek can see the pit fill fast in a big storm, and that's also when power tends to fail. A battery backup with its own float, plus a high-water alarm, covers that gap. Austell also runs its own gas system: if you ever smell gas near the pump area, leave the house first, then call 911 and Austell Gas System at 770-948-1841, option 1, from outside.
What to do now
- Turn off the pump's breaker if water is near the outlet. Stay out of water near cords.
- With power off, check whether the float is stuck and free it.
- Restore power. If the pump hums without moving water, turn it off.
- Check the outdoor outlet for clogs or a crushed pipe.
- Move belongings to higher shelves.
- Call a plumber if water keeps rising.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Pit overflowing in a storm | Stuck float, power loss or undersized pump |
| Runs, water stays | Clogged intake or impeller damage |
| Rapid cycling | Check valve or float problem |
| Thud at shutoff | Check valve slamming or failing |
| Pump dead after an outage | Tripped GFCI or burned motor |
Cost factors
- Part repair versus replacement
- Upsizing for heavy inflow
- Rerouting a discharge out of a household drain
- Battery backup and high-water alarm
- A city plumbing permit, which Austell requires to install, alter or replace drain piping
Sump Pumps questions in Austell
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?
Do I need a permit to replace or add a sump pump?
What is the difference between a sump pump and a sewage ejector pump?
More plumbing services in Austell
Sump Pumps nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: