Sump Pump Repair & Replacement
A sump pump that hums, cycles every few seconds or sits silent while the pit fills won’t save you in the next storm. We repair or replace the whole system: pump, float switch, check valve, discharge line, battery backup and the pit itself.
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Sump Pump Repair, Part by Part
Most sump pump trouble traces back to one of six things. We test each one, fix what’s actually failing and tell you straight when the pump itself is done.
Float Switch Repair
When the float snags on the pit wall, tangles in its cord or wears out, the pump runs nonstop or never starts. We free it, reset it or replace it.
Check Valve Replacement
A failed check valve lets pumped water drain straight back into the pit, so the pump works twice as hard. A loud thud at shut-off often points here too.
Pump Replacement
A burnt-out motor or a chewed-up impeller isn’t worth fixing. We fit a properly sized submersible, set the float right and test it with real water.
Discharge Line Fixes
Cracked pipe, loose fittings and lines that dump water beside the house send it right back to your foundation. We repair or re-route them so the water drains well clear.
Battery Backup Service
Backup batteries wear out quietly, usually years before the backup pump does. We test the system, replace tired batteries and add a battery backup where there isn’t one.
Pit & Drainage Problems
A silted, undersized or open pit wears out even a good pump. We clean or replace the basin, fit a sealed lid and check the weeping tile feeding it.
Signs Your Sump Pump Needs Repair
Sump pumps usually give you some warning. Any of these is worth a look while the pit is dry, not at two in the morning during spring melt.
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Hums but won’t pumpThe motor has power but nothing moves. Usually a jammed impeller or a motor on its way out.
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Cycles every few secondsShort-cycling points to a float set wrong, a failing check valve or a pit that’s too small.
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Runs when it hasn’t rainedA stuck float, or water draining back through a bad check valve, keeps it running for nothing.
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A bang or thud at shut-offThat’s water slamming back against the check valve, and it’s hard on the pipe and the pump.
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Backup alarm chirpingUsually a low battery, or a backup pump that can’t run anymore.
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Water rising, pump silentThat’s the urgent one. Check the breaker, then call us. We’re open 24 hours.
How a Sump Pump Repair Visit Works
We diagnose first and quote second, so you only pay for what’s actually broken.
1. Test the Whole System
We fill the pit, watch the float, listen to the motor and follow the discharge outside, then tell you straight what’s failing.
2. Repair or Replace, in Writing
You get a free written quote, with both options on it where both make sense, so you can see what a repair actually buys you.
3. Fix It Properly
Our WSIB-compliant crew replaces the failed parts or the pump, secures the float, fits a quality check valve and seals the lid.
4. Run It Under Load
We run it with real water, check the backup and show you what to listen for. The work is backed by a written warranty.
Repair or Replace? How We Make the Call
A worn float switch or a split check valve is a small part, and replacing it can buy a healthy pump years of service. A tired pump is another story.
Here’s the rule of thumb we actually use, standing over your pit:
- Under about seven years, motor sound: repair it. Floats, check valves and fittings are routine fixes.
- Seven to ten years or older: replace it. A repair on a tired motor is money you won’t get back.
- Burnt motor or seized impeller: replace it. Those repairs cost nearly as much as a new pump.
- Pump fine, system not: fix the system. A silted pit, a dead backup battery or a discharge dumping water at the wall will sink a new pump just as fast.
That last point is where a pump-only swap falls short. As waterproofers, we follow the water from the weeping tile to the end of the discharge, because a new pump in a bad system just restarts the clock.
No pump or pit at all? That’s a new install, covered on our sump pump installation page.
What Sump Pump Repair & Replacement Cost
These are the ranges we see for sump work around southwestern Ontario. They’re not a quote: the pump you choose, the state of the pit and the length of the discharge run set your number, which comes as a free written quote.
Repairs generally don’t qualify for grants. Brant County homeowners, Paris included, can get 50% back to a $5,000 lifetime cap, but only on a new system in a pre-2012 house with insurance-claim paperwork. Brantford’s program, which paid 80% up to $5,000, is paused (watch brantford.ca for it to reopen), and Hamilton’s $2,000 covers a sump only when paired with a backwater valve, not battery backups. Check current terms first; funding is first-come, first-served.
Single-Part Repair
About $200–$500. A float switch, check valve, cleared intake or discharge fix on a pump that’s otherwise healthy.
Pump Replacement
About $500–$1,200 all-in. A quality submersible in your existing pit, float and check valve sorted, tested under load.
Battery Backup
About $1,000–$2,500 added to a sound pit. A replacement battery alone runs about $250–$400.
New Pit & Basin
About $1,500–$3,500+ when the pit itself is the problem: undersized, cracked or silted past saving.
A Waterproofer Fixes the Whole System
A sump pump is the last step in your basement’s drainage, not a stand-alone gadget. At On Point Masonry Repair and Waterproofing we install weeping tile, waterproof foundations and set pits for a living, so when we fix a pump, we fix the reason it failed too.
- Whole-System DiagnosisPump, float, check valve, discharge, backup and pit, every visit.
- Honest Repair-or-Replace CallsIf a repair will do the job, that’s what we quote.
- Fully InsuredComplete liability coverage on every job.
- Written WarrantyRepairs and replacements backed in writing.
- Locally Owned & OperatedA Paris-based crew that answers its own phone.
- 4.9 ★ on Google70+ Google reviews from homeowners across SW Ontario.
Sump Pump Repair FAQ
Straight answers about fixing and replacing sump pumps. To keep yours running between visits, read our sump pump maintenance guide.
Is it worth repairing a sump pump?
Yes, as long as the motor is healthy and the pump is under about seven years old. Floats, check valves and discharge fittings are inexpensive fixes that can add years. Past seven to ten years, or with a burnt-out motor, put the money toward a new pump.
How much does it cost to repair a sump pump?
Plan on about $200–$500 for most single-part repairs around southwestern Ontario: a float switch, a check valve, a cleared intake or a discharge fix on an otherwise sound pump. Every quote we give is free and in writing.
How much does it cost to replace a sump pump?
Plan on about $500–$1,200 all-in when the existing pit can stay, and typically $1,500–$3,500+ if you need a new pit and basin. Our sump pump installation cost guide breaks down what moves the price.
What is a sump pump float switch?
It’s the switch that tells the pump when to run. The float rises with the water and starts the pump, then shuts it off as the level drops. A float that sticks, tangles or wears out is one of the most common reasons a pump runs nonstop or not at all.
How do I know my sump pump is not working?
A bucket test tells you in about a minute. Pour a few gallons into the pit and watch: the float should lift, the motor should kick in by itself, and the water level should drop fast before the pump stops. If it hums without pumping, never starts or keeps running, have it looked at before the next storm.
Do I need a plumber for sump pump repair?
Usually not. The pump, float, check valve, discharge and pit are drainage work, which is our everyday work as waterproofers. If the problem is a sewage ejector, a backwater valve or anything tied into your drains, we’ll tell you and point you to a licensed plumber.
What Homeowners Say About Our Sump & Basement Work
4.9 ★ on Google from 70+ Google reviews. A few from homeowners who called us about pumps and water in the basement.
We required a sump pump to be installed in our basement as we are on septic and do not have floor drains in that area. Following an on-site evaluation Dave provided his recommendations along with a competitive quote. On installation day Dave was punctual and completed a neat and tidy installation.
What impressed me most was that it only took him about 5 minutes to diagnose and identify the exact source of the water. His solution was targeted to that spot (and therefore much cheaper than other, broader solutions I'd been quoted).
We needed emergency repairs done on our foundation and Dave and his team were there right away to fix the issue. Excellent customer service! Thanks so much!
Sump Pump Repair Service Areas
Based in Paris, Ontario, we repair and replace sump pumps across SW Ontario:
Get a Free Sump Pump Repair Quote
Tell us what the pump is doing (or not doing), roughly how old it is and whether you have a backup. We’ll call you back with an honest read on repair versus replacement. Rather talk it through? Call (519) 802-2138 or email [email protected].
Pump acting up? Get it fixed before the next big storm.
Floats, check valves, pumps and backups repaired or replaced with a written warranty, from Paris and Brantford to Hamilton and Guelph.
Call (519) 802-2138