Plumbing discussions and local services.
Discussion options
Sump pump runs, but the pit level stays up
If a sump pump keeps running without lowering the pit water level, what clues help tell whether it’s moving water at all? I’d be interested in how to distinguish a pump problem from a discharge line that’s blocked or frozen, without relying on the sound of the motor alone.
Would watching the float rise and fall freely help narrow it down, or can a float look normal while the pump still isn’t moving water? And what signs would make it safer to cut power and call for urgent service rather than keep observing it?
Join the conversation
Share your experience or ask a follow-up question.
1 reply
If the discharge outlet is safely visible, a steady outflow is the clearest sign the pump is moving water; a falling pit level is another clue. A float can move freely and still switch the pump on without confirming that it is pumping. No visible discharge by itself doesn’t distinguish a failed pump from a blocked or frozen line - or from inflow matching the pump’s output.
Find a local plumber.
Loading local plumbers…