Most Wendell sump pump problems come from a float that sticks, a check valve that has failed, an outlet that tripped or a worn motor. Half of Wendell's homes were built since 2010, so many pumps are original builder units that have never been serviced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Wendell.
Why does a newer Wendell home have a sump pump?
Usually because of the lot. Wendell has grown fast around the Wendell Falls planned community, and about half its homes were built in 2010 or later, per Census survey data. Builders put pits and pumps where a crawl space tends to collect water or the yard drains toward the house. Those pumps can sit idle for months and then seize when a storm finally fills the pit, so a quick test before the wet season matters more than you might think.
Older homes near Wendell's historic downtown are a different story. About 22.5% of houses predate 1980, and in those a pump was usually added later, often with a discharge line that was run as short as possible.
Where should the water go?
To the yard. Water and sewer in Wendell are handled by the City of Raleigh, and Wendell has been one of Raleigh Water's merger communities since 2006. The sewer system is built for wastewater. Sump water is groundwater, so a discharge tied into a floor drain or cleanout should be moved outside, onto ground that slopes away from the foundation and not toward a neighbor's lot.
Does a water-powered backup need anything extra?
It needs backflow protection, because it uses your household water pressure to pump water out of the pit. Raleigh Water's cross-connection program applies in Wendell: most homes have a dual check device in the meter box, testable assemblies are tested at installation and on the city's schedule, and residential irrigation assemblies are tested every three years by July 1. Ask the plumber whether a backup pump would add a device to that list.
Outlying 27591 homes beyond Raleigh's lines may be on private wells. There, a water-powered backup won't work when the power is out, so a battery backup is the better choice.
A note on permits
In Wendell, residents apply through the town and Wake County Permits & Inspections handles permitting and inspections. A simple swap is different from a new pit, circuit or drain connection, and the plumber can tell you whether yours needs a permit.
Sump Pumps questions in Wendell
How can I tell whether my sump pump still works?
Does a water-powered backup pump need a backflow device?
The pump keeps cycling even in dry weather. What's going on?
Where should the discharge pipe empty out?
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