Sump Pump in Laurel, MD

Local conditions in Laurel

Laurel started as a Patuxent River mill town and later became an early commuter town between Washington and Baltimore. The historic Main Street district still holds houses from that early period, while much of the city came later; the median home was built in 1984. Basements in the older homes often had pits added well after construction, sometimes with discharge pipes that empty only a few feet from the wall. Newer homes usually have a pit set in place at construction, with a pump that may now be decades old.

The City of Laurel lists WSSC Water as its water and sewer contact, with emergencies at 301-206-4002. The Laurel mailing address also covers unincorporated West Laurel and South Laurel and reaches into Howard and Anne Arundel counties, so the utility and permit office can differ outside the city and Prince George's County. For pump work that changes piping inside the city, the City says it does not review plumbing; plumbing permits are applied for directly with WSSC Water.

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Signs to watch for

• The pump never seems to run, even after a soaking storm
• It runs, but the water level in the pit barely drops
• Gurgling and backflow into the basin when it shuts off
• A musty basement or efflorescence on the walls

Timing and seasons

Late winter thaws and spring rains are when a Laurel pit usually sees the most water, followed by heavy thunderstorms in summer. Test the pump in early spring and again before summer. In winter, keep an eye on the outdoor end of the discharge line; on freezing nights it can ice over and force water back toward the house.