A Fairburn sump pump usually quits because of a stuck float, a check valve that leaks back, a tripped outlet or a worn motor. A plumber can repair or replace it and route the discharge to the yard instead of the city sewer, where sewer is available. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fairburn.
Fairburn basics
Fairburn is a railroad town and former Campbell County seat on I-85 in south Fulton. A small historic downtown is surrounded by newer subdivisions; nearly two-thirds of homes were built in 2000 or later, and the median build year is 2004, per census survey data. Most sump pumps here are builder installs now old enough to fail. The City of Fairburn's utilities department provides water and sewer, buying treated water from the City of Atlanta through 19 master meters. The city notes that not all services are available in all areas, so some properties may not be on municipal sewer. Either way, pit water should go to open ground, not into a household drain or a private onsite system.
Builder pumps in newer Fairburn subdivisions are often the smallest size that met code, set in a narrow basin where the float can catch on the wall or the cord. After fifteen or twenty years of storms, the float switch and check valve are usually the first parts to give out, followed by the motor. Testing the pump in a dry month, before the wet season, beats finding out during a downpour.
What to do now
- Switch off the pump's breaker if water is near the outlet.
- With power off, check whether the float is stuck and free it.
- Turn power back on. If the pump hums but doesn't move water, turn it off again.
- Check the outdoor discharge for clogs, and make sure water isn't heading toward a drain field if you have one.
- Note whether a GFCI outlet near the pit has tripped.
- Move belongings away from the pit.
- Call a plumber if the water keeps rising.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Pit full, pump silent | Float stuck, outlet tripped or motor failed |
| Runs without lowering water | Clogged intake or worn impeller |
| Rapid on-off | Check valve or float adjustment |
| Water drains back at shutoff | Check valve failing |
| Soggy yard right by the foundation | Discharge too short |
Cost factors
- Repairing one part versus replacing a builder pump
- Pump capacity for the inflow
- Extending the discharge away from the house
- Battery backup and alarm
- Replacing a cracked or silted basin
- A permit from Fairburn's Building Division, which requires one for any plumbing work by a trade contractor
Sump Pumps questions in Fairburn
My home is not on municipal sewer. Can the pump empty into the onsite system?
What's an easy way to test a sump pump?
How many years does a sump pump usually last?
Will a bigger pump fix one that can't keep up?
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