Sump Pumps in Aurora, CO

Signs the pump needs attention

• Water stands in the pit after a storm or snowmelt and the motor never starts
• The pump hums but nothing comes out of the pipe outside
• It clicks on and off every few seconds
• You hear water rush back into the basin when it shuts off
• Damp carpet, a white mineral line on the basement wall or a musty smell
• A GFCI outlet that trips whenever the pump kicks on

Aurora conditions that matter

Aurora is bigger than Denver in land area and stretches across Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties, from the original Fletcher townsite in the northwest to master-planned communities near E-470. That range means the pit under a 1950s ranch and the one in a newer basement can look very different, and an older pump may have been installed by a past owner with the discharge routed wherever was convenient.

Aurora Water runs both drinking water and wastewater for the city, including the Sand Creek Water Reclamation Facility. Its sewer is meant for household wastewater, so a sump hose dropped into a floor drain or laundry sink is worth moving outdoors. If you are thinking about a backup that runs on city water pressure, know that Aurora Water's cross-connection program requires any required backflow assembly to be tested at least once a year by a certified tester, with results sent to the utility. A battery unit avoids that question entirely.

Freezing nights also matter here. A discharge line that sags or ends in a low spot can freeze solid, and a pump pushing against a blocked line will run hot.

What changes the cost

• Swapping a float, switch or check valve versus a whole new pump
• Pump capacity and build quality
• Whether the basin is cracked, silted or missing a lid
• Rerouting or extending the discharge pipe
• Adding a battery backup or a high-water alarm
• Permit work through the City of Aurora Building Division if plumbing changes

When you call

The number connects you with an independent plumber who covers Aurora. Say whether water is rising right now, where the pit sits and what the pump is doing. If water is close to the outlet, switch off that circuit at the panel before you go near it. The plumber can tell you whether the work needs a permit and handle it with the city.