SUMP PUMP INSTALL & REPAIR — KEEP THE BASEMENT DRY

Not every North Louisiana home needs a sump pump. The ones that do usually fall into a few categories. Below-grade basements in high water table areas — parts of North Louisiana near rivers and low-lying zones have seasonal groundwater that seeps into basements without pumping. Homes with finished basements near major water features or flood-prone corridors — any property in a low-lying area with a finished basement. Homes with exterior drain tile (French drain) systems that collect around the foundation — that water needs somewhere to go. Homes that have flooded before — once is a warning, twice is a system.

A sump pump is a simple machine. A pit (the sump) is installed at the lowest point of the basement. Water collects in the pit as groundwater rises. A float switch triggers the pump when the water reaches a certain level. The pump discharges the water through a pipe to the exterior — typically to a drain field, storm drain, or splash block at least 10 feet from the foundation. Done right, the basement stays dry even in the worst runoff and storm events.

When to call us

1. New basement finish — before installing carpet, drywall, or furniture in a basement at any flood risk
2. Existing pump is 7+ years old — average residential sump pump life is 7-10 years, they fail without warning
3. Pump runs constantly or cycles rapidly — float switch issue, improperly sized pump, or excess water volume
4. Pump won't run during a storm — stuck switch, burned motor, or power failure (time for battery backup)
5. No backup system — every sump pump should have a battery backup; when power fails during the storm, that's when you need it most
6. Sewage ejector issues — basement bathroom or laundry below the main sewer line uses an ejector pump, different from sump
7. Flood recovery — after a flood, we replace the pump, clean the pit, and upgrade the system so it doesn't happen again

Three pump types we install

Pedestal pump — motor sits on a column above the pit, impeller down in the water. Cheapest and easiest to service. Noisier than submersible. 5-8 year average lifespan.

Submersible pump — entire unit sits in the pit underwater. Quieter, more reliable, handles higher water volumes. 8-12 year average lifespan. Our default recommendation for residential sumps.

Battery backup — secondary pump powered by a 12V deep-cycle battery with automatic switchover when primary pump fails or power is out. Non-negotiable on any finished basement, and installed on top of the primary pump. Some battery backups double as standalone pumps; others only run during outages.

Combination system — primary submersible + battery backup + water-powered backup for triple redundancy. Peace-of-mind system for homes that flood repeatedly or luxury basements where flood damage is catastrophic.

Sewage ejector pumps are different

If you have a bathroom, laundry, or kitchen below the main sewer line, you have a sewage ejector pump (also called a grinder pump or pit pump) — different from a sump. Sewage ejectors handle human waste and need to grind solids before pumping. Different pump type, different service interval, but we install and repair both.

What Mark Johnson & Sons does differently

Every install includes a new check valve (prevents water flowing back into the pit after the pump shuts off — critical), a proper discharge line with freeze protection, and a battery backup option in every quote. 3-year warranty on primary pumps, 1-year on battery backups (battery itself is usually 3-5 years from the manufacturer). Classic Membership members get annual sump pump inspection and discharge line check — which is the single biggest thing that prevents pump failure and basement flooding.