Sump Pump Installation & Repair in Louisville & Lexington
Does your basement smell a bit moldy? Are you finishing a basement with a bathroom or other plumbing and need an ejector pump to push wastewater to an overhead sewer?
Sump pumps are important to keep your basement free of groundwater flooding. It pumps excess water out of the basement and, ideally, into a storm drain.
Sump pumps are available as either submersible or pedestal units. Ideally, they are hard-wired to your home’s electrical grid, and some may come with a battery backup in the event a storm knocks out your electricity. If a storm takes power from your home, rainwater may rise unopposed if your sump pump lacks a backup battery.
Dauenhauer installs, repairs, and maintains many quality brands of sump pumps and ejector pumps in the Louisville and Lexington markets.
Quality Sump Pump Installation & Replacement Services
The expert plumbers at Dauenhauer know how to properly install a sump pump for your basement or crawl space. We can find the lowest part of your building, where all the groundwater will accumulate before rising anywhere else.
We will dig a hole and insert a basin and submersible sump pump. We then run the pump line out to a storm drain or a part of your yard further away from the house. Pedestal sump pumps do not require being submerged in water.
Sump Pump Brands We Install and Service
We pride ourselves on doing exceptional work. We like to work only with reliable brands and models. There are many brands of sump pumps and ejectors available. We sell and service most major brands, including:
- Wayne
- Zoeller
- Sumpro
- Reliance
- Basement Watchdog
- Simer
- StormPro
- Hydromatic
- Superior Pump
- Little Giant
- NexPump
- Eco-Flo
Contact Dauenhauer for expert sump pump installation and replacement services in Louisville and Lexington.
Emergency Sump Pump Repair in Lexington & Louisville
Does your sump pump just need maintenance and repairs? Sometimes, a sump pump just needs cleaning, maintenance, or replacement of rubber gaskets or seals, and it’s ready to get to work again.
We don’t like throwing out perfectly usable equipment. If we can fix your sump pump, that’s what we’d prefer to do.
Signs Your Sump Pump Needs Repaired
Watch for these sump pump repair signs:
- Strange noises: The only normal sound is a low, continuous hum.
- Failure to Turn On: Double-check that the float switch isn’t stuck and there is water in the basin.
- Pump Runs Continuously: Either your pump doesn’t have the capacity to handle all the water, or there is a faulty switch.
- Constant Vibrating: The impeller, which draws water into the pump, can draw in debris and damage it.
- Visible Rust: Your sump pump is designed to work with water, so you shouldn’t see rust. If you do, it could be caused by battery acid or bacteria. If left untreated, these can eventually damage or clog your pump.
- Tripped Circuits: If your pump is tripping your circuit breakers, this indicates there is damage to the switch, wiring, or insufficient power in your circuit.
We can repair any brand or model of sump pump in Lexington and Louisville. Call Dauenhauer today to set up an appointment.
Sump Pump FAQs
How many years should a sump pump last?
7–10 years is the industry-standard service life (ARS, Zoeller, Liberty Pumps all cite this range). Units that run constantly (high water table, wet yard, poor foundation drainage) often die at 5–6 years; units in drier basements that rarely cycle can hit 12–15. Because a sump pump’s job is to prevent a flood — and because a failed pump is how you find out it failed — we recommend proactive replacement at year 7–8 on a unit that’s under active use, and pairing it with a battery backup so a pump failure OR power outage doesn’t ruin a finished basement.
What size sump pump do I need?
The code minimum (IAPMO 2024 UPC §1101.6.2) is 15 GPM discharge capacity — that’s the floor, not the target. Real-world sizing: 1/3 HP handles most average-sized single-family homes and discharges 30–40 GPM; 1/2 HP is the residential sweet spot at 40–50 GPM and is what we install in most basements; 3/4 HP (50–60 GPM) is for homes with a high water table or very long discharge runs. Oversizing slightly is fine — undersizing is how a basement floods. The basin itself must be at least 15″ diameter and 18″ deep under the 2024 UPC.
What are the signs of sump pump failure?
The checklist every plumber watches for: (1) unit runs constantly or never shuts off (stuck float — the #1 cause of failure per the City of Ann Arbor municipal sump pump guide); (2) unit doesn’t kick on when you pour a bucket of water into the pit; (3) loud rattling, grinding or high-pitched whining (failing impeller or motor bearings); (4) visible rust on the pump body or basin; (5) water backing up around the pit; (6) breaker tripping when the pump cycles; (7) the pump is over 7 years old even if it’s “working.” We test pumps every spring as part of our $89 annual plumbing maintenance visit.
Do I need a battery backup sump pump?
In most basements, yes — because the worst time for a power outage is during the storm that’s filling the sump. A battery-backup system is a second, DC-powered pump mounted above the primary; when the primary fails, loses power, or can’t keep up, the backup automatically takes over. The battery lasts 6–8 years; tests itself weekly; and pumps at 10–15 GPM for 4–8 hours on a full charge. A water-powered backup is an alternative but only works in homes on municipal water (not well) and uses 1 gallon of city water per gallon pumped.
