Sump Pump in Herndon, VA

Herndon conditions

Herndon is an incorporated town with a historic downtown inside the Dulles Technology Corridor, and its median home was built in 1983. Inside town limits, the Town of Herndon runs its own water and sewer utility through Public Works, buying its drinking water from Fairfax Water. Herndon mailing addresses also reach into unincorporated Fairfax County, south of the Dulles Toll Road and elsewhere, where Fairfax County handles sewer and permits.

Two Town rules matter for pumps. First, the Town's Building Inspections office issues plumbing and gas permits inside town limits, so new drain piping or an ejector for a basement bathroom goes through the Town rather than the County. Second, the Town runs its own backflow program: devices in town must be tested every year by a certified backflow tester, with results filed with Building Inspections. A water-powered backup pump connects to drinking water, so it would fall under that program; a battery backup would not.

For a sewer or water problem on the Town side, Public Works Operations can be reached at 703-435-6860.

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Signs to watch for

• Pump silent with water in the pit
• Pump running nonstop on dry days
• A loud clunk at shutoff and water falling back in
• Damp floor near the walls or the pit
• Slow drains in a basement bath served by an ejector

When to schedule

Test the pump in spring before thunderstorm season and again in the fall. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch the whole cycle: the float rises, the motor starts, the basin empties and water comes out the far end of the discharge line. If you travel in winter, check that the outdoor end of the discharge line is clear of ice, because a frozen outlet can stop a working pump.