A Winston sump pump usually fails because of a stuck float, a leaking check valve, lost power or a worn motor. Sewer availability in Winston wasn't verified and some homes use private onsite systems, so a plumber should route the discharge to open ground clear of any drain field. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Winston.
Winston basics
Winston is a small unincorporated community in western Douglas County along I-20, a former town whose charter was repealed in 1995. Census survey figures, likely reflecting ZIP 30187, put the median home at 1994, with about 23% built before 1980.
The Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) supplies water from the Dog River Reservoir in western Douglas County. Where sewer is available, WSA provides it, but some Winston properties use private onsite wastewater systems, and WSA conditions water service in the Dog River basin on keeping those systems properly maintained. Pumping groundwater into an onsite tank or drain field can overload it, so sump water must go to open ground. WSA owns the meter and street-side lines; the homeowner owns the water and sewer lines from the meter to the house.
On larger rural lots, the old discharge line may stop only a few feet from the house, or run downhill toward the drain field. A plumber can extend it to a spot where the water can spread out and soak in safely.
What to do now
- Turn off the pump's breaker if water is near the outlet.
- With power off, check the float and free it if it's stuck.
- Restore power. If the motor hums but moves no water, turn it off.
- Check the outdoor outlet, and make sure the water isn't heading toward a drain field.
- Note whether a GFCI outlet near the pit has tripped.
- Move belongings off the floor near the pit.
- Call a plumber if water keeps rising.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Pit full, pump silent | Float stuck, outlet tripped or motor failed |
| Constant running | Float stuck up or heavy inflow |
| Short cycles | Check valve leaking |
| Wet ground over the drain field | Discharge routed too close to the onsite system |
| Musty crawl space | Pump falling behind |
Cost factors
- Part repair versus pump replacement
- A longer discharge line on a rural lot
- Crawl space access
- Battery backup; a water-powered unit falls under WSA's annual backflow testing by a tester from its list
- Permits through Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections, since Winston is unincorporated
Sump Pumps questions in Winston
My home is not on municipal sewer. Can the pump empty into the onsite system?
Does a water-powered backup pump need a backflow device?
How do I keep the pit from overflowing when the power goes out?
The pump quit in the middle of a storm. What should I do?
More plumbing services in Winston
Sump Pumps nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
- Winston housing by year built (via Point2Homes)
- Winston, Georgia (Wikipedia)
- Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA): water service
- Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority: sewer service
- WSA owns the meter and the lines in the road right-of-way: service line ownership
- Douglas County Building Permits & Inspections: permits
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