1 services · Portland
Basements & sump pumps in Portland, OR
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.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Basements & sump pumps services in Portland
Local conditions
Basements & sump pumps in Portland: what's different
Long rainy seasons test sump pumps and foundation drains in Portland's older basements. Many homes have basements that were finished later, sometimes over an old sump pit.
Testing the pump before fall rains, keeping discharge away from the foundation and adding a battery backup help prevent wet basements.
Many older Portland basements have foundation drains that discharge to the sump pit, so a failed pump means water rises quickly after days of steady rain. Checking the pump, the check valve and where the discharge goes each fall prevents most problems.
- Water and sewer in Portland
- The Portland Water Bureau supplies water; Environmental Services handles sewers and stormwater.
- Permits in Portland
- Plumbing permits are issued by the City of Portland's permitting and development office.
Portland housing and plumbing
Bungalows and foursquares in Irvington, Laurelhurst and Sellwood have basements, clay laterals and older supply lines.
Other Portland conditions that affect plumbing
- Clay sewer laterals: Roots and age crack clay laterals under mature street trees.
- Ice storms: Occasional ice storms freeze pipes in uninsulated spaces.
- Wet basements: Long rainy seasons test sump pumps and foundation drains.
- Bull Run water: Portland's main water source is the Bull Run watershed, which provides soft water, so leaks and old pipes matter more than scale.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Portland and Multnomah County, including Sellwood, Alberta Arts, Laurelhurst, Hawthorne, St. Johns, Irvington. ZIP codes: 97201 · 97202 · 97203 · 97204 · 97205 · 97206.
When to call a plumber in Portland
- 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 Portland
When do Portland basements usually get wet?
How do I test a sump pump?
More plumbing in Portland
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