Hello all - we have noticed that our sump pump is not running during these heavy rains. We have a battery back-up sump pump, and I verified that it is operational. When I checked it out, I also noticed that I didn't hear any water in the sump pit. Normally, you can hear the water very clearly during a rain, and our sump typically runs fairly frequently. But it has been raining for more than 24 hours here, and it hasn't cycled on once. Also, during the last few weeks, I have noticed very poor drainage on both sides of our house. The grass has stayed very wet, and even pooled in some areas. Our downspouts are buried, so at the time I was thinking maybe there was a leak. There does not appear to be water anywhere in our basement.

I called a plumber this morning, and he basically said that this is a good thing (not having water in the basement) - because those are all of the calls he is getting today! But this doesn't seem right. Can anyone offer any guidance or advice? Thanks!

 

Your plumber is right. My sumps never see water during heavy rains except for late winter and spring when the ground is already saturated.

Most likely the ground is absorbing the rainwater and the water table hasn't risen to the level of your drains.

 

Have you looked under the lid? Mine once quit...I don't know for how long...and I was in the basement during a heavy rain & realized I wasn't hearing that trickle of water into the pit. I looked & the water level was an inch under the rim
The float shaft on my old pedestal pump had stuck on a bit of rust. I jiggled it and it ran for 30 minutes solid as it emptied out the sump pit, all the lines in the slab & then the waterlogged tiles & footings.

If your pit is "dry" then you're fine. Very unlikely something is preventing water from flowing from your tiles into the pit.

 

Thank you both for the replies. guy48065 - I did as you advised, and found the same situation! The water was only a couple of inches from the top (which would explain why I wasn't hearing anything)! My primary pump had failed, and the float switch on my secondary had failed. I was lucky enough to snag the absolute last sump pump from our Home Depot and get it installed and operational (albeit not very cleanly) 20 minutes before we lost power. It is now powered from our portable generator. Can't thank you enough, because I am sure we would be flooded right now in our basement if you hadn't suggested to open the damn lid. A million thanks!

 

No water in the sump pit would be a good thing but you don't go from getting water in there to not unless you've done something on the outside of the home to move the water away from the house.

 

I'm glad that was the issue and you got it in time. Your complaint sounded VERY familiar