Sump Pump in Riverdale, MD

Signs of a failing pump

• The motor whines or grinds and the water level barely moves
• The pump only starts after you nudge it
• Water seeps through the floor near the pit during storms
• Rust stains or a mineral crust on the pump and pipe
• Water comes back into the basin every time it switches off
• The basement smells damp for days after rain

Riverdale conditions

Riverdale is a postal name. The 20737 ZIP covers the incorporated Town of Riverdale Park, which was called Riverdale until 1998, plus unincorporated areas such as Riverdale Heights. Riverdale Park is an older streetcar suburb just south of College Park, and its median home dates to 1957. Many of those houses can have block or stone foundations with old or missing drain tile, so water tends to enter where the floor meets the wall, and pits were added in later decades.

WSSC Water handles water and sewer service in the area. The pump, pit and discharge line are the owner's to maintain. If a basement bathroom drains to an ejector and sewage backs up, the cause may be the ejector or the private sewer line; sewage spilling from a public manhole goes to WSSC's Emergency Service Center at 301-206-4002.

Cost factors

• Fixing a part on the current pump versus putting in a new one
• Replacing a small or cracked retrofit basin
• Getting the discharge far enough from the house on a narrow lot
• Ejector work for a lower-level bathroom
• Battery backup and high-water alarm
• Calls placed during storms or after hours

When you call

You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in Riverdale. Mention the age of the house, whether you are inside Riverdale Park or in a nearby unincorporated area, and what the pump is doing. Shut off power to the area if water is near outlets. Plumbing work in Prince George's County is generally done by a plumber registered with WSSC Water under a WSSC permit; building permits are a County matter, so check with the Town of Riverdale Park as well before a larger project such as a new pit.