“Power went out at 1 a.m. and the pit was filling. A plumber answered on the second ring, talked me through the shutoff and was at the door before the rain stopped. The new battery has been tested twice since.”
Marcia T.Erie homeowner
Sump pumps and backwater valves in Erie
A pump moves water. It can't stop a sewer backup.
Agosto Pump & Plumbing installs sump pumps, battery backups and backwater valves in Erie County basements, and answers the storm line when one fails. Below, what each device stops and what it doesn't.
- A plumber answers the storm line
- Written price before work starts
- Pit, pump label and valve photographed for your file
Backup stack
What each layer stops, and what it doesn't
Water reaches a basement three ways: up through the slab, in through a power cut, and back up the sewer. Each device covers one of them.
| Water arrives by | Battery backup | Backwater valve | Sump pump |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater rising in the pit | Battery backupStops it, on battery, if the main pump fails. | Backwater valveNo effect. It sits on the sewer line, not at the pit. | Sump pumpStops it. Pumps the pit out through the discharge line. |
| A power cut in the storm | Battery backupKeeps pumping. Run time depends on the battery and the inflow. | Backwater valveNo effect. It needs no power. | Sump pumpStops running with the power. |
| A stuck float or a dead motor | Battery backupTakes over on its own float. | Backwater valveNo effect. | Sump pumpThe pit fills and the floor follows. |
| Sewer surcharging up a floor drain | Battery backupNo effect. | Backwater valveStops it while the flap is clear. Needs a yearly check. | Sump pumpNo effect. It never touches the sewer line. |
| Surface water at a window well or door | Battery backupPumps what reaches the pit, no more. | Backwater valveNo effect. | Sump pumpNone of the three stops it. Grading and well covers do. |
- Storm line, 24/7(814) 555-0101. A plumber from the pump crew picks up.
- Water near outlets?Stay out of the basement and call from upstairs.
Field notes
Where we look first on a basement walk-through
Four places, on every first visit. We photograph each one for your file before we quote.
- 1
The main drain line
A backwater valve goes on the line that carries waste out of the house. We trace it from the stack to the wall and check the cleanout can be reached.
- 2
The low spot of the floor
The pit goes at the lowest point, away from the furnace and the panel. A dark patch or a stain on the slab shows where water collects.
- 3
The wall and its joints
Tide lines on masonry show how high water has stood before. We note them in the file with a photo.
- 4
The way out
A pump needs a discharge line that leaves the house, away from the foundation. We walk the route outside and check your town's rule before we run one.
What we install
Three devices, and the work around them
Most calls come down to one of these six jobs.
Sump pump replacement
A new pump and check valve in the existing pit, with the float set and tested in front of you.
Battery backup
A second pump on its own float and battery, wired to an alarm that tells you when it takes over.
Backwater valve
A valve in the main drain line that closes when the sewer flows backward. We open the slab and cut in the valve with an access lid.
Discharge lines
Pipe from the pit to an outlet away from the house, with a check valve and an outdoor end that won't freeze shut.
New pits and liners
A pit cut at the right low point, with a liner, a sealed lid and a pump set above the silt.
Storm-night calls
A plumber on the storm line: we stop the source we can, set a temporary pump and photograph what we find.
From the field notebook
What a first visit writes down
Sample stills with the counter a field report carries. Yours are your own basement's.
Showing 8 of 8
Sample photos.
First visit
From the walk-through to install day
- 01
Step 1: We walk and photograph
A plumber goes through the basement with you, photographs the pit, the pump label, the floor drains and the drain line, and asks what happened in the last storm.
- 02
Step 2: You get the findings
Within a day, a text or an email: what we saw, which of the three devices the house lacks, and what each would cost to put in.
- 03
Step 3: You get a written price
One price for the install, in writing, before any work starts. If the slab has to be opened, the price says so.
- 04
Step 4: Install day
Usually one visit. We test the pump with water in front of you, run the battery on its float, and leave the photos and the pump's paperwork with you.
Where we go
Erie and the county around it
Basements in these towns get a plumber from the pump crew. Type your ZIP code to see whether we come to you.
- The city: Erie
- West of Erie: Fairview, Springfield, Elk Creek, Cranesville
- South county: Waterford, McKean, Platea, Amity, Union City, Mill Village
We don't take calls in Crawford or Warren County, or in Ohio or New York. If we know a plumber there, we'll give you the name.
ZIP codes: 16501, 16502, 16503, 16504, 16505, 16506, 16507, 16508, 16509, 16510, 16511, 16410, 16415, 16426, 16438, 16441, 16442
Sample reviews
From people who called the storm line
“They showed me photos of the old pit, the pump label and the drain line, then left the same photos in a folder for my adjuster. That saved me a morning of phone calls.”
Kelli B.Erie homeowner
“I thought a bigger pump was the answer. Wesley pointed at the floor drain, explained the valve, and the quote was for the valve. Nothing extra on it.”
Eddie R.Fairview homeowner
Sample reviews.
Sample reviews. Replace them with your own, with the source.
Short answers about pumps, batteries and valves
Do I need all three: pump, battery and valve?
Not always. The pump covers groundwater, the battery covers a power cut, and the valve covers a sewer backup. We walk the basement, look at the floor drains and the pit, and tell you which of the three your house actually lacks.
Does my sump pump discharge into the sewer?
It shouldn't. Many towns don't allow a sump pump to empty into the sanitary sewer, and it can add to a backup in a storm. We check where yours goes and your town's rule before we quote a new line.
How long does a battery backup run?
It depends on the battery size and how fast water is coming in. We give you a run time for your pit and your pump on the quote, and tell you how often the battery needs testing.
Who is on the phone at night?
A plumber from the pump crew, on a rota. The storm line rings through to that plumber's phone; there is no answering service. Nights, weekends and holidays carry an after-hours charge, and you hear it on the phone before the truck leaves.
Will you deal with my insurance company?
No. We write down what we find and photograph it, and you give the file to your adjuster. Whether a pump failure or a sewer backup is covered depends on your policy; check it for a water backup endorsement.
What don't you do after a flood?
We stop the source and get the plumbing working. Drying out, wet drywall, flooring and mold are a water-damage contractor's work, and we'll say so on the phone rather than guess.
Contact
Tell us what the basement is doing
A plumber reads every request. If water is rising now, call the storm line instead.
Storm line(814) 555-0101
Hours
- Monday – FridayToday
- 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Saturday – SundayToday
- Storm line only
- Storm line
- Open 24 hours