Sump Pump in Capitol Heights, MD

Signs to look for

• A full pit and a pump that will not respond when the float rises
• A pump that runs and runs during a storm without catching up
• Gurgling water dropping back into the basin after each cycle
• Damp floors or a musty smell in the lower level
• Water pooling against the house where the discharge ends
• A cord or plug sitting in water

Capitol Heights conditions

Capitol Heights began as a 1904 subdivision just beyond the District's eastern edge, where Northeast and Southeast Washington meet, and the median home was built in 1967. Older basements here often have pits and pumps added after construction, with small basins and discharge pipes that let water run back to the foundation. Homes from the 1960s may still have original check valves and pumps replaced several times on the same aging setup.

Even though it borders DC, Capitol Heights is served by WSSC Water, not DC Water, and WSSC plumbing permits and rules apply. If a basement bathroom drains to an ejector and sewage is backing up, the cause may be the ejector or the private sewer line; sewage overflowing from a public manhole or the street goes to WSSC at 301-206-4002. Right at the line, confirm your utility on your bill. The Capitol Heights mailing address also covers unincorporated areas outside the town. For a water-powered backup pump, which ties into the drinking water line, WSSC requires any testable backflow assembly to be tested every year by a certified cross-connection technician.

Cost factors

• A replacement float or valve compared with a new pump
• Pump size and whether an ejector is part of the job
• Replacing an old or cracked basin
• Extending the discharge on a narrow lot
• Battery backup and alarm
• Nights, weekends and storm-day calls

What happens when you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who serves Capitol Heights. Say what the pump is doing, whether the water is clear or sewage, and roughly when the house was built. Turn off power to the area if water is near outlets. Replacing an existing pump generally does not need a permit in Prince George's County; new piping goes through WSSC Water, which issues all plumbing permits in the county.