Sump Pump Services

Sump Pumps, Battery Backups, and Basement Water Protection

In Wisconsin, a working sump pump is not optional. The combination of clay-heavy soil, spring snowmelt, and storm-driven rain events means most basements in this region rely on a sump pump to stay dry. When that pump fails, you find out fast, often at the worst possible moment.

Doro Plumbing installs, services, and replaces sump pump systems for homes across Washington, Dodge, Ozaukee, Waukesha, and Jefferson counties. Our Certified Master Plumber handles the plumbing side of the system: pump selection, pit work, discharge piping, check valves, and battery backup integration.

When to Call Us

Call us if any of these are happening:

• Pump runs constantly, even when you do not expect water
• Pump cycles on and off rapidly
• Pump is making grinding, humming, or unusual noises
• Pump runs but water is not actually moving
• You can hear water in the pit but the pump never kicks on
• Discharge pipe is leaking, frozen, or backed up
• The pit is dry but you smell sewer gas (often a dried-out trap, easy fix)
• You have not had your pump serviced in years and want it checked before storm season

You should also call before a problem develops if you are buying a home with a sump pump, finishing your basement, or adding equipment that depends on the basement staying dry.

Sump Pump Repair

Many sump pumps can be repaired rather than replaced. Common repairs include:

• Float switch replacement (the most common failure point)
• Check valve replacement (prevents water flowing back into the pit)
• Discharge pipe repair, re-pitching, or freeze prevention
• Pit cleaning when sediment has accumulated and is jamming the pump
• Pump motor service on quality units
• Wiring and outlet repair where the dedicated circuit has issues

If the pump is past saving (typical lifespan is 7 to 10 years for primary pumps), we will give you replacement options.

Sump Pump Replacement

When it is time for a new pump, we can match what you have or upgrade to better equipment. Pump options:

• Cast iron submersible pumps: the workhorse, with 1/3 HP and 1/2 HP options sized to your pit and discharge needs
• Pedestal pumps: visible above the pit, easier to service but louder. Less common today, still useful in some pits.
• High-capacity pumps: 3/4 HP and 1 HP units for properties with high water tables, large basements, or houses that have had recurring flooding

The right pump depends on how much water you actually move and how often, plus your pit size and discharge configuration. We do not believe in oversizing for the sake of it. A correctly sized pump runs less, lasts longer, and uses less power than a pump that is way too big for the job.

Battery Backup Systems

A primary sump pump runs on house power. When you lose power, you lose the pump, and that almost always happens during the same storm that is driving water into your pit in the first place. A battery backup is the single best investment you can make in basement protection.

We install battery backup sump systems that include:

• A secondary pump in the same pit, dedicated to backup duty
• A sealed marine-grade or AGM battery
• Smart charger and monitoring
• Audible alarm that sounds when backup activates
• Optional cellular monitoring on premium systems that can text you when the backup runs

A good battery backup will run a basic pumping cycle for several hours of continuous operation, which covers most weather-driven outages. We will help you size the system based on how much water your basement actually pumps.

Discharge Lines and Frozen Pipe Prevention

The pump itself is only half the system. The discharge line carries water from the pit out and away from your foundation. Common issues we see:

• Discharge pipes that re-route water too close to the foundation, where it just cycles back in
• Pipes that back-pitch toward the house, holding water that freezes solid in winter
• Missing or failed check valves that let pumped water fall back into the pit
• Underground discharge lines that have collapsed, clogged with sediment, or frozen
• Discharge pipes routed through unheated garages or crawl spaces that freeze repeatedly

We can re-route, re-pitch, replace, and where appropriate add a freeze-resistant emergency exit so a frozen line does not back the system up entirely.

Pit Work and New Installations

For homes that do not currently have a sump system but need one, or for finished basements where the existing pit needs to be reconfigured, we handle:

• Pit excavation and liner installation
• Drain tile (interior or exterior weeping tile) connection to the pit
• Pump and discharge line installation
• Battery backup integration
• Cover and sealing for radon-reduction and odor control
• Float and switch placement for reliable operation

This kind of work usually involves a finish carpenter or basement waterproofing contractor for the non-plumbing components, and we coordinate with whoever you are working with to keep the project moving.

Service Schedule

A sump pump should be tested at least twice a year, in spring and fall. A simple test is to fill the pit with a bucket of water and watch the pump cycle. We can include a sump pump check as part of an annual home plumbing visit, which catches problems before they leave you with a wet basement.

Doro Plumbing · (262) 229-5632 · Hartford, WI