If your Bailey sump pump has stopped keeping up, shut off its power safely, check the float and look at the outdoor end of the line, which is often frozen or buried in winter. Most failures trace to a stuck switch, a bad check valve, a power issue or a worn motor. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Bailey.
Bailey in brief
Bailey is a mountain community on US 285 along the North Fork of the South Platte River, one of the larger communities in the Platte Canyon area of Park County. Bailey Water and Sanitation District provides water and sewer only to members of its district and runs its own sewer plant. Homes outside the district were not verified, so you may be on district service, a private well, a private onsite wastewater system or some combination. That matters for a sump: on district sewer, keep sump water out of the drains; if you are not on municipal sewer, keep it away from the onsite system's tank and drain field; and on a well, choose a battery backup, because a water-powered unit loses pressure when the power fails.
What to do right now
- Turn off the pump's breaker if water is near the outlet.
- Check the float. Free it if it is stuck against the basin or tangled in the cord.
- Go to the outlet outside. In winter, snow and ice are the usual blockers on a mountain lot.
- Watch one cycle. Water rushing back into the pit after shutoff means the check valve has failed.
- Get valuables off the floor.
- Call a plumber if the pump hums, overheats or will not start.
Signs and likely causes
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Silent pump, water in the pit | Power outage, stuck float or failed switch |
| Runs but nothing comes out | Frozen or blocked discharge line |
| Short, frequent cycles | Float range too tight or check valve leaking |
| Runs with no melt or rain | Water returning down the pipe, or a leak in the water line |
| Wet ground near the house or drain field | Discharge outlet in the wrong place |
What affects the cost
- A single part versus a full replacement
- Battery backup sized for long mountain outages
- A longer, freeze-protected discharge on a sloped lot
- Keeping the outlet clear of a drain field or well
- Travel to the property
Park County's Building Department in Fairplay handles building permits and inspections everywhere in the county except Fairplay and Alma, so unincorporated Bailey goes through the county. The county page does not list plumbing permits by name; the plumber can check whether your job needs one.
Sump Pumps questions in Bailey
Will a water-powered backup run if my house is on a private well?
Can a sump pump drain into a private onsite wastewater system?
What should I do if the sump pit is overflowing right now?
How many years does a sump pump usually last?
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