Why so many Aurora basements have sump pits
Large parts of the Front Range sit on clay-rich soils that swell when wet and shrink as they dry. Builders in many newer subdivisions handle this with a perimeter drain, a perforated pipe around the foundation footing that collects groundwater and routes it to a pit in the basement. A sump pump lifts that water out of the pit and discharges it outside.
Most of the year the pit may be dry or nearly so. In spring snowmelt, after heavy thunderstorms, or when lawn irrigation runs heavily near the foundation, the pit can fill repeatedly. That is when the pump is under the most strain and when a power outage or a stuck float does the most harm.
Technician in a protective suit extracting water from a soaked carpet. A representative photo of the task, not a record of work at any particular property.
Reading what you find
- IfThe pit is full and the pump is silentCheck whether the pump is plugged in and the outlet has power; a tripped GFCI is common. Do not reach into the pit while the pump is plugged in.
- IfThe pump runs but the water level does not dropThe discharge line may be frozen, clogged or disconnected outside, or the check valve may have failed.
- IfThe pump cycles constantly in dry weatherWater may be coming from irrigation, a leaking line or poor grading; ask a plumber or drainage specialist.
- IfWater is coming up through floor cracks away from the pitGroundwater pressure is high; extraction can wait until inflow is controlled.
After the overflow
- Restore pumping.A working pump, whether repaired, replaced or a temporary unit, has to be running before drying makes sense.
- Extract under finishes.Water from the pit spreads beneath carpet and along wall plates. Extraction and moisture mapping show how far it went.
- Treat it as groundwater.Water that came up from outside the foundation is generally considered contaminated, which affects what porous materials are kept.
- Dry and verify.Basement concrete dries slowly; readings on walls and floor should reach goals before carpet and baseboards return.
Reducing the odds next time
General information for Aurora, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.