1 services · Milwaukee

Basements & sump pumps in Milwaukee, WI

A sump pump keeps groundwater from rising into a basement or crawl space. Most last about 7 to 10 years. Replacing an aging pump before storm season, and adding a battery backup or alarm, is far cheaper than cleaning up a flooded basement.

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Basements & sump pumps services in Milwaukee

Sump pump service in Milwaukee

Urgent

A sump pump that won't run usually has a stuck float switch or a failed motor. One that runs constantly may have a bad check valve or a high water table. In cold winters, a frozen discharge line outside is a common cause of a pump that runs but doesn't empty the pit.

Local conditions

Basements & sump pumps in Milwaukee: what's different

MMSD's Deep Tunnel stores stormwater, but intense storms can still back up basements. Older homes have basement floor drains beside water heaters and laundry tubs.

Backwater valves and sump pumps help.

Testing the sump pump each spring, keeping the floor drain clear and adding a backwater valve where sewer water has come up in storms are the main protections. Older duplexes often have separate water heaters for each unit in the same basement, so one backup can affect both units' equipment.

A battery backup helps during storms that cut power.

Water and sewer in Milwaukee: Milwaukee Water Works supplies water; the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) handles regional wastewater.
Permits in Milwaukee: Plumbing permits are issued by the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services.

Milwaukee housing and plumbing

Duplexes and bungalows from the early 1900s in Bay View and Riverwest commonly have basements and old service lines.

Other Milwaukee conditions that affect plumbing

Lead service lines: Milwaukee has many lead service lines and a citywide replacement program.
Frozen pipes: Deep cold freezes pipes and shallow water services.
Basement backups: Heavy storms back up sewers into basements.
Deep Tunnel: MMSD's Deep Tunnel stores stormwater to reduce overflows, but intense storms can still back up basements.

Neighborhoods and ZIP codes

Plumbers on Thawline cover Milwaukee and Milwaukee County, including Bay View, Riverwest, Washington Heights, Third Ward, East Side, Tosa Village. ZIP codes: 53201 · 53202 · 53203 · 53204 · 53205 · 53206.

When to call a plumber in Milwaukee

The pump runs constantly or turns on and off rapidly
The pump hums but doesn't move water
Water in the basement after a storm
Rust, loud noise or a pump more than seven years old
No backup during storms that knock out power

How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the basements & sump pumps guide.

Basements & sump pumps questions in Milwaukee

Can Milwaukee basements still flood with the Deep Tunnel?

Yes, during intense storms.

How do I test a sump pump?

Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit. The pump should start, empty the pit and shut off. If it doesn't start, check that it's plugged in and the float can move freely.

More plumbing in Milwaukee

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