A friend of mine just hired a company to repair a concrete block basement wall and install a sump pump system. Including 47 lineal feet of basement wall encapsulation, drain tile, dual sump pumps and battery backup. I don’t have all of the prices separated out.
However, the sump basin and cover, 2 pumps with battery backup, check valve, and labor for installation came to $2600. So, how much does it cost to install a sump pump where you live? That depends on your situation. Let’s take a closer look.
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Sump Pump Where I Live?
There is no easy answer to this question. I have lived in the northern Midwest, the south coast and the western states. What people get paid for doing the same job varies quite a bit depending upon where they live. So, sump pump installation costs more where incomes are higher.
Also, a small town or rural area will have fewer companies able and willing to do the job. So, lack of competition will drive the cost of installation upwards.
Who Installs Sump Pumps?
If you just need a sump pump replaced, then contact a plumber or experienced handyman. Don’t have a sump pump yet? Then a plumber should not be the first choice. Rather, you want a basement waterproofing company.
Basement waterproofing companies need a lot of business to stay in business. So, you typically only find them in larger cities. In that case, home builders and remodelers may have sump pump installation experience.
Sump pump installation companies can include basement remodelers. Although the remodeler may sub-contract that out to local sump pump installation companies.
Another place to look for sump pump installation companies would be water restoration companies. Oftentimes basements flood because there wasn’t a sump pump installed. Or the existing sump pump failed. So, check with a water restoration company if no one else is available.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Sump Pump from The Lowest Bidder?
Maybe plenty. Newer and smaller companies that install sump pumps may not stay in business long enough to collect on their lifetime warranty. That happened to one of my neighbors. So, you are better off hiring a large company and paying more than the lowest bidder.
Why do companies that install sump pumps go out of business? The number one reason is that they don’t charge enough to cover all of the business’s expenses.
I don’t remember the exact figures but more than 80% of all new businesses are out of business within five years.
A common reason sump pump installation companies fail (in my opinion) is that they lower prices to steal customers from competitors. Eventually they can’t pay their business expenses and quit the business. This is a common problem in all industries.
How Much Do Sump Pump Installation Companies Charge?
Please take into consideration what I have already said about why sump pump installation companies charge more or less. Where you live, soil conditions, equipment and products used, and company selection will all influence installation costs.
Unless specifically stated prices do not include installation labor costs.
So, how much does it cost to install a sump pump? Well, sump pumps cost as little as $40 but they may not be able to handle really dirty drain tile water. Whereas a popular high quality and dependable sump pump is just over $200. That is for a single sump pump.
A primary sump pump with a backup pump will cost around $350. Those two sump pumps with a battery backup will be more like $1200.
You still need a sump basin for about $50-150. Digging the hole for the basin is $500-$1000 depending upon if concrete must be removed in addition to the dirt. Also, digging a pit in a crawl space is going to be more expensive than in an easy to access basement.
The Zoeller sump pump kit includes the pump, sump basin and cover and the check valve for easy DIY installation (shown below).
- Automatic, float operated mechanical switch 115V/1 Ph
- 1-1/2″ NPT discharge
- 9 ft. UL listed 3-wire cord and plug
- 1550 RPM, 60 Hz on 50 series models
- Non-clogging vortex impeller
Drain Tile Installation Cost
There will be a wide variation in the cost of drain tile installation. Installing drain tile in the basement is more expensive where concrete must be removed. Whereas a crawl doesn’t have concrete to remove. However, working in a crouched position in the crawl space is going to cost more man hours.
How difficult is it to carry the concrete and dirt out of the house? Narrow steep stairs and low overhead will increase the cost. Having said that, I have seen prices from $50-$80 per lineal foot for drain tile installation costs. That includes labor.
Basement and Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost
This is a thick plastic sheet that may also have an anti-microbial barrier. It is draped over the walls and permits water to be collected in the drain tile system. Including labor, this will be $2-$4 per square foot of coverage.
Crawl space encapsulation would include covering the floor area also.
Is Basement Wall Encapsulation Necessary?
Generally speaking, wall encapsulation will be necessary sooner or later. Concrete block walls will continue to crack and leak in more places over time.
Poured concrete walls generally crack less and take longer to do so. In which case crack repair may be the only solution needed.
However, I have seen poured concrete walls where the steel concrete form ties are letting water leak through the concrete. Typically, the metal rusts and stains the concrete wall. Since the form ties are placed every couple of feet, wall encapsulation may be needed.
Are Sump Pump Benefits Worth the Cost of Installation?
It is always cheaper to install sump pumps when the house is being built. Many cities require sump pump system installations for new construction.
Retrofitting sump pump systems into a house is expensive and many people put it off as long as possible. Which is understandable if you don’t have the money. However, the longer you wait, the bigger the problems become. Which usually means it will cost more money.
There are many benefits of sump pumps, so lets take a look at some of them.
Sump Pumps Makes Basements Livable and Useable
Any flood in the basement is going to cost much more than having a sump and drain tile system installed.
A sump pump is only part of the system needed to keep a basement dry. The drain tile system is needed to collect water and send it to the sump pump to be pumped outdoors.
The drain tile and sump pump system are enough to prevent the basement from being flooded. That will protect the furniture and interior walls from puddles of water.
Generally speaking, that will also protect carpeting and flooring, but not always. That is because a concrete floor can still absorb water from the earth below the floor.
A sump pump system will help reduce humidity levels in the basement, but it may not be enough. Does the house still smell musty, have mold, or need a dehumidifier? Then you probably need wall encapsulation in addition to the sump pump drainage system to reduce humidity.
Can A Sump Pump Prevent Foundation Cracks?
Are there cracks in the wall that leak water? Are the walls bowed out?
What causes foundation cracks?
- Clay soil on the outside of the foundation expands when it gets wet. This will push on the basement wall. Causing cracks and bowing the wall inwards.
- Rain water soaking into the ground around the house causes extreme pressure on the walls. If you are somewhat lucky, that water will just soak through the basement wall and flood the house. If you are unlucky, the basement walls will crack and push the concrete blocks out of place.
Generally, it isn’t a question of if, but a question of when the wall cracks and leaks water. It is cheaper to install a sump pump now rather than fixing more and more cracks.
Foundation Crack Repair Cost
Foundation crack repair costs can be easy and inexpensive or a major problem and very expensive.
A small crack can be repaired for about $200 with epoxy.
That friend that I mentioned at the top of this article is paying about $9,000 to push some concrete blocks back into place and stabilize the wall. The walls have several small cracks that are leaking water. So, they are also encapsulating the walls. Those expenses could have been avoided if a proper sump pump system had been installed years ago.
Need Sump Pump Installation Where You Live?
How much does it cost to install a sump pump where you live? Find out by using this handy contact form to contact local professionals where you live.
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Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
