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Quick answer
If the pit is filling and the pump is silent, keep your hands out of the water near a plugged-in pump, then check the power, the breaker and the GFCI outlet, and look for a stuck float. [3][2] If the power is out, a battery backup can keep it going, or a generator run outdoors at least 20 feet from any door, window or vent. [9] Restoration guidelines class sump failures as Category 2 gray water, so wear gloves and dry what it soaks within 24 to 48 hours. [4][11] Wisconsin's regulator says sump pump overflow needs a special homeowners endorsement, so check your policy. [13]
Do this first: the first 30 minutes
Stay out of water near power
A sump pump sits in water and plugs into an outlet. If water has spread to the pump's plug, cords, outlets or the electrical panel, do not walk into it. Turn power off at the panel only if you can reach it from a dry spot; otherwise call the utility or an electrician. CDC says never to turn power on or off, or use an electric tool, while standing in water. [1]
Look at the pit. Is the water rising, and is the pump silent, humming, or running without lowering the water?
Check that the pump, and any battery backup, is plugged in and has power. [2]
Check the breaker, then the outlet. Edina, Minnesota notes that lightning has been known to trip GFCI outlets and shut off a pump during a heavy rainstorm, so reset the GFCI if it tripped. [3]
Look at the float. Canada's guidance lists float switch problems as a common reason pumps stop. If the float is caught on the pit wall or a cord, unplug the pump before you loosen it. [2]
Once the pump has power, pour a bucket of water into the pit. Edina says it should start on its own and pump the water out quickly. [3]
If the pump still will not run, move boxes, rugs and electronics off the floor and upstairs.
Photograph the pit, the pump and any water on the floor before cleanup.
Call a plumber or waterproofing contractor about the pump, and your insurer if water got in.
If water is coming up through the floor drain at the same time, that may be a sewer backup, not just the sump. Stop using sinks, toilets and the washer, and treat that water as Category 3, grossly unsanitary water. [4] Wear gloves, boots and eye protection and keep children and pets away. If deep water already covers the basement, follow the flooded basement steps instead.
Why do sump pumps fail?
Canada's government guidance says a sump pump can stop working when water flows into the pit too fast, the float switch has problems, the pump and discharge pipe are not maintained, the unit is near the end of its life, or the power goes out. [2] University of Minnesota Extension adds that the drain tile feeding the pit can fail too, from a collapsed pipe, silt or roots, or a broken connection to the sump. [5]
Common sump pump problems, what you see, and what to check
Problem
What you see
What to check
No power
Pump silent, pit full
Plug, breaker and GFCI outlet; reset a tripped GFCI
Power outage
Whole house dark, pit rising
Battery backup or a generator run outdoors
Stuck or failed float switch
Pump silent even with power
Whether the float moves freely
Clogged intake
Pump runs but water drops slowly
The grate or inlet screen on the bottom of the pump
Blocked or frozen discharge line
Pump runs, water does not leave
The pipe outside, and that it is clear and not frozen
More water than the pump can move
Pump runs nonstop, water still rises
Whether you need a backup pump for when the main one is overwhelmed
Old pump
Odd noises, frequent cycling, rust
Age; Canada and Edina suggest replacing about every 10 years
Table sources: Government of Canada [2], Edina, Minnesota [3] and Angi's sump pump replacement guide, updated August 5, 2026, which lists clogged or damaged discharge lines, electrical malfunctions, rusted or worn parts, a stuck float switch and a jammed impeller as common repairs, and strange noises, frequent cycling and visible rust as warning signs to tell a technician. [6] Edina suggests a backup pump in case the main pump fails or is overwhelmed by a large storm. Edina lists removing the pump from the pit and cleaning the grate on its bottom as routine maintenance. [3] Angi's installation guide, updated October 5, 2026, lists freeze protection for discharge lines as a common upgrade in cold climates. [7]
Safe to do yourself
Checking the plug and breaker, resetting a GFCI, loosening a stuck float with the pump unplugged, clearing ice or debris from the outside end of the discharge pipe, and testing with a bucket of water. Edina's test is a bucket of water poured into the pit. [3]
If the power is out
Canada's guidance says to check your pump during a power outage and that all sump pumps should have an alternate power source and a backup pump. It names battery or generator power for backup pumps, and warns that a backup pump that relies on the same power source as the main pump will also fail when the power goes out. [2]
Battery backup. A 2024 FEMA flood fact sheet says to make sure you have a sump pump with a battery-operated backup in case of electrical failure. [8]
Generator. CDC says never to run a gasoline generator or pump inside a home, basement or garage, or less than 20 feet from any door, window or vent, even with windows and doors open. [9] Run the cord in from outside, and do not connect a generator to your home's wiring without an approved automatic-interrupt device, as CDC warns. [1]
Water-powered backup. Angi's October 2026 guide lists water-powered pumps among the backups that protect during power outages. [7]
Hand removal. A practical stopgap with no backup: buckets, or a wet/dry vacuum plugged in away from the water, can slow the rise in a small pit. CDC says never to use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water. [1]
Carbon monoxide from generators
Never run a generator or gas pump in the basement, garage or house to keep a sump going. CDC's limit is at least 20 feet from any door, window or vent. [9]
If water already got in
Restoration guidelines that follow the IICRC standard, as summarized by UC Riverside, class sump pump failures as Category 2, gray water with a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contamination. They say gray water in flooded structures that remains untreated for longer than 48 hours may change to Category 3. [4] Massachusetts public health guidance also lists sump pump failures as Category 2. [10]
Wear rubber gloves and boots, and keep children and pets out of the basement until it is cleaned.
Once the power is safe, pick up water with a wet/dry shop vacuum, or a transfer pump or the repaired sump pump. [9]
Pull wet rugs, cardboard boxes and stored fabrics out of the basement.
Run fans and a dehumidifier. EPA says that if wet materials are dried within 24 to 48 hours of a leak, in most cases mold will not grow, and to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent. [11]
Check finished walls. Massachusetts public health guidance, written for clean-water damage, says to cut out and discard wallboard that has not dried within 48 hours, and to contact a professional restoration contractor for black water or larger flooding. [10]
Keep receipts for pumps, fans, dehumidifiers and cleanup supplies.
For water coming up through the floor or the joint where the wall meets the floor, the page on water coming through the basement floor covers seepage and hydrostatic pressure. If heavy rain is what overwhelms the pump, the basement leaking after heavy rain page covers gutters, downspouts and grading.
Repair or replace, and what it costs
Canada's guidance says sump pumps should generally be replaced every 10 years, following the maker's advice, and Edina suggests considering replacement every 10 years. [2][3] Angi's October 2026 guide says most pumps last seven to 10 years. [7]
Sump pump costs, with source and date
Job
Typical cost
Source, date
Sump pump repair
$400 to $550
Angi, Aug. 2026
Replace a pump in an existing pit
$309 to $755; full range $120 to $1,350
Angi, Aug. 2026
Pump only: pedestal / submersible
$60 to $170 / $100 to $400
Angi, Aug. 2026
Labor
$45 to $200 per hour
Angi, Aug. 2026
New installation
$800 to $1,500; average $1,100
Angi, Oct. 2026
Battery backup system
$1,000 to $2,000 extra
Angi, Oct. 2026
Water-powered backup
$1,200 to $2,500
Angi, Oct. 2026
Monitoring alarm or Wi-Fi controls
$100 to $500
Angi, Oct. 2026
Sources: [6][7] What drives the price: the pump type and size, whether a pit already exists, emergency visit fees, permits for new electrical or drainage work, and any backup system. Angi's August 2026 guide says most pros charge an extra fee for emergency visits. [6] Cleanup is a separate bill. HomeAdvisor's June 2026 flooded basement guide puts cleaning alone at $3,000 to $7,000 for Category 2 water. [12]
Does insurance cover a sump pump failure?
Often not without an add-on. Wisconsin's insurance regulator says neither homeowners insurance nor flood insurance covers damage from sewer backup or sump pump overflow, and that a special homeowners endorsement is required. [13] The NAIC's consumer guide to home insurance (last revised 2010) says you might be able to buy endorsements for sewer or drain backups and sump pump overflow, since most homeowners policies offer limited or no coverage for them. [14] Florida's Office of the Insurance Consumer Advocate says a water backup and sump discharge or overflow endorsement covers water that backs up into the home from a sewer, sump or drain, and does not cover floods. [15]
How sump-related water is usually handled (check your own policy)
Situation
Usually handled by
Sump pump fails and the pit overflows
A water backup or sump overflow endorsement on a homeowners policy
Outside flooding covers the area and comes in
Flood insurance, which most homeowners policies do not include
Flood damage to the sump pump itself
NFIP flood insurance: FEMA's basement fact sheet lists sump pumps among the covered basement building items
Most basement belongings, finished floors and finished walls after a flood
Excluded from NFIP basement coverage; FEMA lists washers, dryers and freezers as exceptions under contents coverage
Table sources: Wisconsin OCI [13], Florida DFS [15], FloodSmart [16] and FEMA's NFIP basement fact sheet. [17] Florida's consumer advocate notes that some endorsements carry their own separate deductible. [15] Ask your agent what your endorsement covers, its limit and its deductible. Take photos before cleanup and keep damaged items until the adjuster sees them.
How to keep it from happening again
Test it. Edina says to check pumps regularly, especially in early spring and when heavy rain is forecast, by pouring a bucket of water into the pit. [3] Canada suggests a full test once a year, including the check valve and discharge pipe. [2]
Add a backup and an alarm. Canada recommends an alternate power source and a backup pump. Edina notes pumps often come with water-level or flood alarms to alert you if the pump fails. [2][3]
Clear the discharge. The pipe should empty onto ground that drains away from the house. Canada says at least 5 feet from the foundation if possible, and Edina says at least 20 feet. [2][3]
Cover the pit. University of Minnesota Extension says a sump should have an airtight, childproof cover. [5]
Send less water to the pit. Edina says to keep gutters maintained and large enough for heavy rain, aim downspouts away from the home, and grade the ground next to it properly. [3]
Check your coverage before storm season. Ask whether you have a water backup endorsement and what its limit is.
Call a water damage restoration company when:
Water has spread across the basement floor or keeps rising.
Water is near outlets, cords or the panel.
Finished walls, carpet or insulation got wet, or are still wet after 24 to 48 hours.
Water came up through the floor drain and may be sewage.
Common questions
What should I do if my sump pump stops working?
Stay out of water near the plug or outlets. Check the power, breaker and GFCI outlet, then the float. [3][2] If it still will not run, move belongings up, remove what water you safely can, and call a plumber or waterproofing contractor.
Why is my sump pump not turning on?
Common causes are lost power, a tripped GFCI, a stuck float switch, poor maintenance or an old pump. [2] Edina notes lightning can trip a GFCI during a storm. [3] Once it has power, test it with a bucket of water.
Can I run a sump pump on a generator?
Yes, if the generator stays outside. CDC says never to run a gasoline generator inside a home, basement or garage, or less than 20 feet from any door, window or vent. [9] CDC also says not to connect a generator to your home's wiring without an approved automatic-interrupt device. [1]
Does homeowners insurance cover sump pump failure?
Usually only with an endorsement. Wisconsin's insurance regulator says neither homeowners nor flood insurance covers sump pump overflow without a special endorsement. [13] Check your own policy and ask your agent about the limit.
How often should a sump pump be replaced?
Canada's guidance says generally every 10 years, following the maker's advice. [2] Angi's October 2026 guide says most pumps last seven to 10 years. [7]
How much does it cost to replace a sump pump?
Angi's August 5, 2026 guide puts most replacements at $309 to $755, with a full range of $120 to $1,350, and repairs at $400 to $550. [6] A battery backup adds $1,000 to $2,000, per Angi's October 2026 guide. [7]
