How Much Does It Cost to Install a Sump Pump in Minneapolis?

The Minneapolis area typically experiences a significant amount of rainfall from spring to autumn. While all the rain is great for your lawn and garden, particularly heavy rains can pose a serious risk of your basement or crawl space flooding. When the ground around a home’s foundation becomes overly wet, water can quickly seep through the concrete, resulting in part of the home flooding. This is where installing a sump pump is extremely beneficial, as it continually pumps all the water out of the house to prevent flooding.

How Sump Pumps Work

Before we look at how much you can expect to pay for a sump pump, it’s first important to provide a quick overview of how sump pump systems work. The sump pump itself sits either inside or on top of a lined pit. The top of the sump pit is level with the floor in the basement or crawl space and extends around 2 to 3 feet below the ground level. Whenever the soil underneath the foundation becomes overly waterlogged, water begins to flow into the sump pit before it can start seeping up through the concrete. Once the water level in the pit begins to rise, a float or switch triggers the sump pump to turn on. The result is that the water gets pumped out of the pit and then away from the house through a series of PVC pipes. Once the pump turns on, it will continue running until the pit is drained, at which point the float or switch triggers it to shut off.

Average Cost for Sump Pump Installation

Statistics show that the nationwide average cost to install a new sump pump is $1,500, but the price can range from as low as $1,000 to as high as $4,000 to $5,000. This cost typically covers the installation of a complete sump pump system, including drilling through the concrete floor, excavating the sump pit, and installing the drain lines. The cost will also be higher if you need to have an electrician run wiring and install an outlet to plug the sump pump into. If you only need to install a replacement pump and not a complete system, you’re typically looking at spending anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand dollars.

Factors That Can Affect the Installation Cost

The reason the cost to install a sump pump can vary significantly is that several factors can influence the price. One factor you should always consider is the type of sump pump you want to install and how powerful it needs to be to meet the specific needs of your building. Pedestal sump pumps tend to cost less than submersible pumps. Part of the reason is that pedestal pumps are less powerful and have smaller motors. Submersible pumps also cost more to produce, as they need to be more robust since they sit at the bottom of the sump pit and are exposed to water anytime the pit begins filling up. The type of float or switch the sump pump has also affects how much it costs. The more basic, less expensive models usually have a tethered float switch or a vertical float switch. Sump pumps that use a diaphragm switch typically cost a bit more, but are less likely to experience issues with the switch failing and preventing the pump from running when needed. More advanced models often have an electronic switch, which has fewer moving parts and is more reliable than the other types of switches. Higher-end sump pump systems often feature additional features, such as an alarm, battery backup, or a backup pump. While these features will add to the installation cost, they also greatly decrease the chances of the system failing and your basement or crawl space getting flooded. A sump pump alarm is a great feature to invest in. The alarm utilizes a moisture sensor in the sump pit to detect if the water level in the pit rises higher than it should. If the sensor becomes wet, the alarm will sound to alert you that the pit is at risk of overflowing. There are even smart sump pump systems that connect to Wi-Fi and will send a notification to your phone if the alarm goes off. That way, you’ll know that you need to go home and try to deal with the issue before your house starts getting flooded. You can also connect a sump pump alarm to a backup pump. As soon as the moisture sensor becomes wet and triggers the alarm, the backup pump will immediately turn on to prevent flooding. Installing a battery backup for your sump pump is also a worthwhile investment. One issue you always have to be concerned with during severe storms is your power getting knocked out and preventing your pump from running. A sump pump normally plugs straight into a standard 120-volt outlet. With a battery backup system, you plug the backup into the outlet and then plug the pump into the backup. This allows the backup to monitor whether power is continuing to flow to the outlet. If the power to your home goes out or the outlet ever stops working, the backup will activate so that the sump pump receives power from the 12-volt battery. As long as the battery is in good condition and has a full charge, it should provide sufficient power for the sump pump to run continuously for around five to seven hours or intermittently for one to three days.

How to Know Which Type of Sump Pump to Install

Choosing the right type and size of sump pump for your home isn’t always easy. A pedestal pump is usually sufficient for homes that aren’t very prone to flooding or areas that rarely receive heavy rains. A submersible pump is definitely the better option if your home is in a lower-lying area or more prone to flooding in general, as this type of pump is more powerful and can pump more gallons per minute. Another important consideration is the vertical and horizontal distance of the drain lines, as this also affects how powerful the pump needs to be to work effectively. Whether your home has a basement or a crawl space can also play a role in which type of sump pump is best due to noise concerns. Despite not being as powerful, pedestal pumps tend to be much louder since they sit outside the sump pit. Submersible pumps are mostly or completely covered in water when running, and the water greatly helps to muffle the sound of the motor. You may not hear that much noise if your sump pump is in the crawl space, but a submersible pump is the better choice for a basement. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® is the company to trust when you need any plumbing services in Minneapolis or the surrounding areas. Whether it’s installing a sump pump, unclogging a drain, or whatever else, you can count on our expert team to promptly and professionally address your needs. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.