Sump Pump Failed and the Basement Is Flooding: What to Do

If your sump pump has stopped and water is rising in the basement, stay out of the water if it is near outlets, the furnace or the electrical panel, cut power to the basement at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry spot, and get the water out as fast as possible. Every hour standing water sits, it soaks deeper into drywall, carpet and framing.

On Long Island, sump pump failures usually happen at the worst time: during a nor'easter or a long, heavy rain, when the ground is saturated and the pump is needed most. Here is what to do in the first hour, why pumps fail, and how insurance usually treats it.

First steps (do these now)

1. Make it safe. Water and electricity together are the biggest danger. If the water is touching outlets, extension cords, a furnace or a boiler, do not wade in. Shut off power to the basement from the main panel only if you can do it without standing in water. If you cannot, call the utility.
2. Check the pump. If it is safe to reach, look at whether the pump has power, whether the float is stuck, and whether the pit is full of debris. Sometimes freeing a stuck float gets it running again.
3. Move what you can. Lift boxes, electronics, rugs and furniture off the floor and out of the basement.
4. Document everything. Take photos and video of the water level, the pump, the pit and damaged belongings before anything is moved or thrown away. Your insurance company will ask for this.
5. Call your insurance company to report the loss, and ask whether your policy has a water backup or sump overflow endorsement.
6. Call a water removal company. Professional pumps and extraction units remove water far faster than a shop vac, and drying needs to start the same day.

Why sump pumps fail

• Power outage. The most common cause during storms. A standard pump stops the moment the power goes out, right when the rain is heaviest. A battery backup pump or a generator prevents this.
• Stuck or tangled float switch. The float tells the pump when to turn on. If it gets stuck against the side of the pit or tangled in the cord, the pump never starts.
• Clogged intake or pit. Silt, gravel and debris can block the pump intake.
• Frozen or blocked discharge line. In winter, the line that carries water away from the house can freeze where it exits outside. The pump runs, but the water has nowhere to go.
• Pump too small or worn out. An undersized pump cannot keep up during a big storm, and older pumps lose capacity over time.
• Check valve failure. If the check valve fails, water pumped out flows right back into the pit.

What professional cleanup involves

Getting the water out is only the first part. A proper flooded basement cleanup includes:

• Water extraction with truck-mounted or portable pumps and extraction units.
• Removing wet materials that cannot be saved, usually carpet pad, the bottom of the drywall and wet insulation. Finished basements often need drywall cut out 1 to 2 feet above the water line.
• Drying the structure with commercial dehumidifiers and air movers, usually for 3 to 5 days.
• Moisture readings every day until the framing, subfloor and walls are back to normal levels.
• Antimicrobial treatment on affected surfaces to help prevent mold.
• Documentation for your insurance claim: photos, moisture logs and a list of removed materials.

If the water came from outside during a storm, or mixed with water from a floor drain, it may be contaminated. That changes what can be saved and how the area is cleaned. Our guide to sewage backup cleanup on Long Island explains what to do if the water came up through a drain.

How insurance usually treats it

This is the part that surprises most homeowners. Many standard homeowners policies exclude water that overflows from a sump pit or backs up through drains, unless you added a water backup and sump overflow endorsement. If you have that endorsement, it usually covers the cleanup and damaged property up to the endorsement limit.

Flood insurance is a separate policy. It generally covers water that comes in from outside flooding, not a pump failure on its own. Because the details vary so much, call your agent, ask what applies, and do not throw anything away until the adjuster has seen it or you have photographed it. Our step by step guide to filing a water damage insurance claim in New York walks through the process.

How to keep it from happening again

• Add a battery backup pump. It takes over automatically when the power goes out or the main pump fails.
• Test the pump before storm season. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump turns on and empties it.
• Clean the pit and check that the float moves freely.
• Keep the discharge line clear and make sure it carries water well away from the foundation. Protect the outside end from freezing in winter.
• Install a water alarm in the pit or on the basement floor so you know about a problem before the water spreads.
• Replace an old pump before it fails, especially if it is past 7 to 10 years.

Flooded basement? We are on call 24/7

Aqua-Pro Restoration has handled water damage on Long Island and in NYC since 2004. We answer around the clock, bring commercial pumps and drying equipment, and document everything for your insurance company. If your sump pump failed and the basement is flooding, call (855) 229-9998 now. See our flood damage cleanup service for how we work.

Does homeowners insurance cover a flooded basement from a failed sump pump?

Often only if your policy has a water backup or sump pump overflow endorsement. Many standard homeowners policies exclude water that overflows from a sump or backs up through drains unless you added that coverage. Flood insurance is a separate policy and generally covers water coming in from outside flooding. Call your agent and ask exactly what your policy says.

How long do sump pumps last?

Many sump pumps last around 7 to 10 years, less if they run constantly or the pit collects a lot of debris. If yours is older than that, hums but does not pump, or runs nonstop, have it checked before the next big storm.

Can I just pump the water out and run fans?

For a small amount of clean water on a concrete floor, sometimes. Once water soaks carpet, drywall, insulation or wood, fans alone usually leave moisture behind inside the materials, which can lead to mold within 24 to 48 hours. Moisture meters are the only way to know the basement is truly dry.