If your Lyons sump pump has stopped keeping up, switch off its power safely, look at the float and check the outdoor end of the discharge before anything else. Most failures come down to a jammed switch, a check valve that leaks back, a tripped circuit or a motor that is done. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lyons.
Lyons at a glance
Lyons is a small northern Boulder County foothills town where North and South St. Vrain Creeks join, ringed by red sandstone and known as the Double Gateway to the Rockies on US 36 and SH 7. Homes on lower ground near the creeks can see the pit work harder during spring runoff. The Town of Lyons runs water and wastewater service inside town limits, including its own treatment plant, and residents are responsible for the sewer line running from their property to the Town main. Groundwater pumped into that private line is a burden on both your pipe and the Town plant, so sump water should drain onto the yard instead.
Steps to take right away
- Cut power at the panel if water has reached the outlet or cord.
- Free the float. Silt carried in by runoff can wedge it against the basin.
- Check the outdoor outlet. Look for ice, leaves or a crushed hose.
- Watch one cycle. If water pours back into the pit as the motor stops, the check valve has failed.
- Move belongings off the floor.
- Call a plumber if the pump hums, smells hot or will not start.
Symptom and probable cause
| Symptom | Probable cause |
|---|---|
| Basin full, pump silent | No power, pinned float or a dead switch |
| Motor runs, outlet dry | Clogged intake, silt or a frozen line |
| On-off every few seconds | Float travel too short or a leaking check valve |
| Runs after the weather turns dry | Lingering groundwater, return flow or a supply leak |
| Soggy ground beside the house | Outlet too close to the foundation |
What sets the cost
- A single failed part versus a replacement pump
- Cleaning silt from the basin or replacing the liner
- Extending and sloping the discharge so it does not freeze
- Battery backup or a high-water alarm
- Backflow protection if you add a water-powered backup
Lyons' backflow program covers commercial and multifamily connections plus any residential connection with an identified uncontrolled cross-connection, so ask the plumber how a water-powered backup would be treated; a battery unit avoids the question. The Town contracts building department work to SAFEbuilt, with permits handled through its Community Core system, and Boulder County has no building code jurisdiction inside town.
Sump Pumps questions in Lyons
What should I do if the sump pit is overflowing right now?
Can I pipe my sump pump water into the sewer cleanout or laundry drain?
Why does the sump pit smell?
Does a water-powered backup pump need a backflow assembly?
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