Fort Washington stretches along the Potomac, and many homes here sit on sloped lots with basements or walk-out lower levels where a sump pump keeps storm water out. If the pit is filling and the pump is not keeping up, a few quick steps can limit the damage until help arrives. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Fort Washington.
Fort Washington was mostly rural until about 1960 and is now a suburb of riverfront homes, marinas and wooded neighborhoods such as Tantallon and Fort Washington Forest. The median home was built in 1980. On hillside lots, storm runoff tends to collect against the uphill wall of a lower level, which is where a sump pump earns its keep.
What to do now
- Cut power to the basement circuit if water is near outlets or plugged-in equipment.
- Check the pump's outlet. A tripped GFCI is one of the most common reasons a pump goes quiet.
- Lift the float gently with a stick. If the motor starts, the switch was stuck.
- Walk outside to the discharge. Make sure it is not crushed, disconnected, frozen or buried in leaves.
- On a walk-out level, check the exterior door drain and window wells for debris.
- Lift anything valuable off the floor and keep children and pets away from the water.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Pump does nothing as the pit fills | Power loss, tripped outlet or a failed switch |
| Hums but does not pump | Debris in the impeller or a seized motor |
| Water flows back into the pit | Missing or failed check valve |
| Pit overflows only in big storms | Pump too small for runoff off the hillside |
| Ice at the outdoor pipe | Discharge line holding water on freezing nights |
Cost factors
- A replacement part compared with a full pump swap
- Pump capacity needed for the amount of water the lot sheds
- Long or buried discharge runs down a slope
- Sump pump or ejector for a lower-level bathroom
- Battery backup, water-powered backup or alarm
- Calls during a storm, at night or on weekends
WSSC Water provides water and sewer service in Fort Washington. For sewage spilling from a public manhole, call WSSC at 301-206-4002. In Prince George's County, all plumbing permits are issued by WSSC Water, not the County, and the County notes that replacing existing fixtures generally needs no permit apart from water heaters and testable backflow devices. If you are thinking about a water-powered backup, remember that it ties into the drinking water line and needs backflow protection; WSSC requires testable assemblies to be tested every year by a certified cross-connection technician.
Sump Pumps questions in Fort Washington
Where should the discharge line end outside?
Is a battery backup pump worth adding?
Why does the discharge line freeze in winter?
Why does the pump keep running when it has not rained?
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