A New Hill sump pump that isn't clearing water usually has a stuck float, a failed check valve, a power problem or a worn motor. Because most New Hill homes are on private wells and are not on municipal sewer, where the pump discharges and how it's backed up matter more than in town. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in New Hill.
New Hill is a rural crossroads in southwestern Wake near Harris Lake that is now seeing new subdivisions: the median home was built in 2013 and about two-thirds went up since 2010, per Census survey data. Most homes are on private wells and private onsite wastewater systems. Town water and sewer from Apex reach only where lines exist and the parcel annexes. The Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility is located in New Hill, but that doesn't mean New Hill homes are connected to it. Many newer homes here have builder-installed pits that have never been serviced, and on larger lots the discharge line can run a long way before it reaches daylight, so a blocked or crushed line is worth ruling out.
What to do right now
- Kill the power. If water is near the pump's cord, switch off the breaker before anything else.
- Reset once. Check for a tripped GFCI or breaker.
- Check the float. With power off, see if it's stuck.
- Hold the level. Bail or vacuum if the pit is close to overflowing.
- Check where the water goes. Make sure the discharge isn't emptying near the drainfield or the well.
- Call. Mention that you're on a well and an onsite system.
Symptoms and what they suggest
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Quiet pump, full pit | Power loss, stuck float or failed switch |
| Hum but no flow | Seized impeller or worn motor |
| Water drops back | Failed check valve |
| Pump and well both dead in a storm | Power outage; neither runs without electricity |
| Soggy yard near the drainfield | Discharge routed toward the onsite system |
Cost factors
- Part repair or a new pump
- Pump size and type
- Pit access
- Rerouting the discharge away from the drainfield and well
- Battery backup, alarm or generator hookup
Two things are different on a New Hill lot. Sump water should never go into the onsite wastewater system, where it can overload the tank and saturate the drainfield. And a water-powered backup won't work, because the well pump stops when the power does. A battery backup or a generator is the realistic choice. Permits for unincorporated Wake go through Wake County Permits & Inspections; the Chatham County part of the 27562 ZIP would fall to Chatham.
Sump Pumps questions in New Hill
My home isn't on municipal sewer. Can the sump empty into my onsite wastewater system?
Will a water-powered backup pump work if the house is on a private well?
How do I keep water out of the pit when the power goes out?
Where should the discharge pipe empty out?
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