Water rising in the pit tonight
Call any hour, because dispatch is 24/7 and a rising sump pit is an urgent job. Until help arrives, reduce what is feeding the pit and protect the electrical side.
Do not stand in water near a pump, a power strip or a panel. If water has reached outlets in the basement, shut off the basement breakers from a dry spot.
Check the plug and float
Make sure the pump is plugged into a working outlet, and look for a tripped GFCI. A float wedged against the pit wall keeps the pump from switching on.
Cut the water coming in
Stop laundry, dishwashers and showers while the pit is high. Move downspout extensions a few feet farther from the foundation.
Lift valuables off the floor
Raise boxes and furniture onto blocks or shelves. Water in a finished basement spreads far faster than it drains.
Do not pull the pump by its cord
Lift the pump by its discharge pipe only when it is unplugged. A cord tug can break the wiring and give you a shock.
Then call (385) 488-1892. Tell us the pit size, the pump type and whether water is reaching the floor.
Choosing the right pump for the pit
Bigger is not better. A pump that is too strong short-cycles and wears out early.
| Type | Best for | Drawback | Typical life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submersible, cast iron | Quiet service in a covered pit | Harder to reach when stuck | Often 7 to 10 years |
| Submersible, thermoplastic | Light duty and low cost | Less heat tolerance | Shorter than cast iron |
| Pedestal | Narrow pits and easy service | Louder, motor exposed | Can run longer if kept dry |
| Battery backup unit | Storm outages | Needs a charged battery | Battery replaced every few years |
| Water-powered backup | Homes with strong supply pressure | Uses household water and needs an air gap | Long, if tested often |
Tell us the horsepower on your existing pump label and the pit diameter, and we can usually match it.
Why a pump fails and what the options are
Most failures come from four sources. A stuck float switch, a clogged intake screen, a bad check valve or a dead motor account for nearly every call. Sand and silt from a pit with no gravel base wear the impeller down in a few seasons.
A float or switch repair can be cheap, while a burned motor usually means replacement. If the pump is over seven years old and has already been repaired once, replacing it is often the better trade.
How a sump installation goes
A new pump or a new pit follows the same order.
Locate the low point
We confirm where water collects before choosing a pit location, since a pump in the wrong corner does little.
Set the basin
An 18 to 24 inch basin sits on a gravel bed. The lid is sealed so soil gases and humidity stay out of the room.
Install pump and check valve
A check valve in the discharge keeps water from falling back into the pit after every cycle. A small weep hole prevents airlock.
Run the discharge line
The pipe leaves the house and ends where water is allowed to go. We do not state a local rule here, so ask the Herriman building department where discharge is permitted.
Test under load
We fill the pit with a hose and watch the float, pump and outlet.
Adding new plumbing lines to a home can require a city permit. Confirm before the discharge route is dug.
Pit rising or pump silent? Call (385) 488-1892 now.
Call (385) 488-1892Where the water cannot go
Two verified limits help. The Jordan Basin Improvement District says no groundwater is allowed in sewer lines or sewer laterals, so a sump must never be tied into a sewer cleanout. The city also amended its storm ordinance in 2021 to ban non-stormwater discharges to the storm system, so assume the curb is not an automatic answer.
Ask the building department before you choose a route.
Soils and water in Herriman
The Utah Geological Survey mapped shallow groundwater in the north part of the Copperton quadrangle, which includes north Herriman. It does not apply to all of the city. If you live in that area, a pit may fill from groundwater as well as from rain.
The same survey notes collapsible soils that settle when wetted, with irrigation as a common trigger. Water from an overrun sprinkler or a poorly aimed discharge pipe can soften soil near a footing. Aim the pump outlet well away from the foundation.
The city also requires a geotechnical report for every footing excavation because soil types vary across Herriman. If a report came with your house, ask for the page on groundwater, since it tells you whether a sump was planned.
What drives sump pump pricing
You get a clear price before work starts. These are the pieces that move it.
- Repair or replaceA float or check valve costs far less than a new pump and a pit rebuild.
- Pit workDigging a new basin through a finished slab takes concrete cutting and patching.
- Backup systemBattery or water-powered backups add equipment and an electrical connection.
- Discharge routeA short run to a yard drain differs from a long buried line.
- Access and hourTight crawl space or after-hours calls change labor time.
Standard homeowner policies often exclude groundwater seepage and sump failure unless you added a water backup endorsement. Call your insurer before you throw anything away, and keep photos.
Want your real number? Call (385) 488-1892 and tell us what the pump is doing.
Related work
A pit that fills constantly may point to a bigger drainage question, which our basement waterproofing page covers. If water is also showing up at a floor drain, the cause may be a blocked sewer line, and sewer line cleaning is the better call. A sudden gusher behind the wall is a burst pipe repair job.
Sump pump questions homeowners ask
Do you handle sump pump emergencies at night or on weekends in Herriman?
Yes. The line is answered 24/7, and a pit rising toward the floor is treated as urgent. We cannot promise an arrival time, because it depends on current jobs and roads, but we get the work moving on the first call.
Does every Herriman home need a sump pump?
No. Many homes do not have one. Whether you need one depends on your lot, your drainage and your groundwater, so we look at the basement before suggesting a pit.
Where can my sump pump discharge?
That is a local rule, and we do not guess. Ask the Herriman building department. We do know groundwater is not allowed in sewer laterals.
How long does a sump pump last?
Many submersible pumps run seven to ten years, less with heavy use or sand in the pit. Age and repair history guide our advice.
Do I need a battery backup?
If you have flooded in an outage or have finished space downstairs, yes, it is worth considering. A backup also covers a main pump failure.
What is the difference between a sump pump and an ejector pump?
A sump moves groundwater out of a pit. An ejector lifts sewage from a basement bathroom up to the building drain, and uses a different sealed basin.
Pump acting strangely? Call (385) 488-1892 before the pit overflows.
Call (385) 488-1892Sources and standards
The standards and local rules behind this service page are listed below. Rules and fees change, so read the current version before you rely on them.
- Herriman City: stormwater
- Herriman City: lot grading and drainage
- Utah Geological Survey: Geologic Hazards of the Copperton Quadrangle (SS-152)
- Jordan Basin Improvement District: collection system overview and lateral ownership
- 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted statewide under Utah Code 15A-2-103