Sump Pump in Chevy Chase, MD

Signs your pump needs a plumber

• The pit is full and the pump will not start
• The motor hums but nothing flows out of the discharge
• The pump cycles rapidly even in light rain
• A sewage smell or backup near a basement bathroom
• Water staining the bottom of finished walls
• Rust or corrosion on the pump, pipe or check valve

Local conditions in Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase grew in the 1890s as a streetcar suburb along Connecticut Avenue, and in ZIP 20815 about two-thirds of homes were built before 1980, with more than 2,600 dating to 1939 or earlier. Basements in houses of that age were rarely designed as living space. Many now have a sump pump added later, and some have a basement bathroom that drains through a sewage ejector, which is a heavier and more involved repair.

WSSC Water provides water and sewer service across the area. A backup from the public sewer goes to WSSC's emergency line at 301-206-4002. Chevy Chase is a patchwork: an unincorporated area plus several incorporated towns and villages, including the Town of Chevy Chase. Plumbing permits come from WSSC Water Permit Services and building permits from Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services. The Town of Chevy Chase also issues its own permits for larger projects, such as additions, walls and driveway work, and approves them only after the County permit is issued, so exterior drainage work may involve the town as well.

What affects the cost

• Sump pump versus a sealed sewage ejector basin
• Access to a pit behind finished walls or in a tight utility room
• Replacing an old basin or cast iron discharge pipe
• Rerouting a discharge that drains into a sanitary line
• Backup pumps and alarms for finished space
• WSSC, county or town permit steps

What happens when you call

The call goes to an independent plumber who works in Chevy Chase. Explain whether the water is clear or wastewater, where the pit is and whether the basement is finished. Turn off power to circuits near water before going down. The plumber can confirm which permits apply on your street.