In College Park, sump pump trouble is usually a float that won't lift, a leaky check valve, a power interruption or a motor worn out after years of service. A plumber can repair or replace it and make sure the discharge goes outdoors instead of into the city sewer. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in College Park.
College Park's homes and utilities
College Park sits on Atlanta's southern edge next to Hartsfield-Jackson, with a large National Register historic district of older homes. Census survey figures put the median home at 1972, and about 71% of homes were built before 1980. Many of those houses sit on crawl spaces where a pump was added long after construction, often with a discharge pipe routed however was easiest at the time.
The City of College Park runs its own water distribution and sewer collection through Public Works' Water & Sewer Division. Most of its water is bought from the City of East Point, with the rest from Clayton County Water Authority. The sewer system is meant for household wastewater, so a sump line feeding a laundry sink or cleanout should be rerouted outdoors. After hours, water and sewer problems go to Public Works.
No city backflow program was found in the sources for this page, so ask the plumber what protection a water-powered backup would need before installing one.
Repair or replace
| What you notice | Repair | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Pump won't start | Float snagged on old pit wall | Motor dead or seized |
| Runs nonstop | Float stuck in the up position | Pump too weak for the inflow |
| Water drains back | Replace the check valve | Only if pump is also failing |
| Rust and noise | Rarely worth it | Usually the better call |
| Discharge into a drain | Reroute outdoors | Often done with a new pump |
Signs it's time
- A soggy crawl space after rain
- A pump that hums but moves no water
- Rapid cycling
- A mildew smell in the house
- A tripping outlet or breaker
- Sagging insulation or rotting wood near the pit
- Water sloshing back into the basin when the pump stops
Timing notes
Older crawl spaces are easier to work in during dry weather, so have a pump of unknown age checked before the wet months. College Park's Department of Building & Inspections issues plumbing permits directly from City Hall on Main Street, and the plumber can say whether your job needs one. When you call, describe what the pump is doing and whether water is rising, and turn off its breaker if water is near the outlet.
Sump Pumps questions in College Park
Could the water under my house be a plumbing leak rather than groundwater?
Can the sump discharge go into a floor drain, laundry sink or sewer cleanout?
Does the pump need its own outlet?
Can the discharge line freeze during a Georgia cold snap?
More plumbing services in College Park
Sump Pumps nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- College Park housing by year built (via Point2Homes)
- College Park, Georgia (Wikipedia)
- City of College Park Public Works Department - Water & Sewer Division: water service
- City of College Park Public Works - Water & Sewer Division: sewer service
- City of College Park Department of Building & Inspections: permits
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