If your Byers sump pump is losing ground, kill its power safely, check the float and look at the outdoor end of the discharge first. With some of the oldest housing on the eastern I-70 corridor, many failures here trace to a worn check valve, an aging motor or a discharge that sends water back to the foundation. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Byers.
Byers in brief
Byers is a farming and ranching town about 40 miles east of Denver on I-70, platted in 1889 and known for its Fourth of July parade and rodeo. Its housing is older than most of the corridor: Census survey figures put the median build year at 1983, with about 45% of homes built before 1980. An older basement may hold a pump added long after construction. No water or sewer provider for Byers could be verified, and providers can vary by address, so check your water bill or ask Arapahoe County. If you are on a sewer system, keep sump water out of the drains; if you are not on municipal sewer, keep it away from the onsite system; on a private well, choose a battery backup.
What to do now
- Switch off the breaker if water is near the pump's outlet.
- Free the float if it is caught on the cord or basin wall.
- Clear the outdoor end of drifted snow, ice or dirt.
- Run a cycle. Water rushing back into the pit after shutoff means the check valve has failed.
- Raise belongings off the floor.
- Call a plumber if the motor hums, trips the breaker or will not start.
Symptoms and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| No sound, water in the pit | No power, stuck float or worn-out switch |
| Humming without flow | Seized motor, jammed impeller or frozen line |
| Frequent short runs | Water recirculating from a short discharge, or a leaky check valve |
| Runs with no rain | Return flow or a leaking water line |
| Cracked or crumbling basin | Age; the liner may need replacing |
Cost factors
- A part repair versus a new pump
- Replacing an old basin
- A longer, freeze-protected discharge on an open lot
- Battery backup or high-water alarm
- Travel to the property
- Upgrading a pump that a past owner installed with a makeshift hose for a discharge
A pump that sits idle through a dry plains winter can seize by spring, so a bucket test in late winter is worth doing. Byers is unincorporated, so plumbing permits go through the Arapahoe County Building Division in Centennial rather than a town office. The plumber can tell you whether your job needs one.
Sump Pumps questions in Byers
What should I do if the sump pit is overflowing right now?
Will a water-powered backup run if my house is on a private well?
Is the water in my basement coming from groundwater or a leak?
Do I need a permit to replace a sump pump?
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