Sump pump and frozen pipe repair in Como Park, Saint Paul, MN 55103
Homes around Como Lake enjoy the zoo, the conservatory and lakeside walks. They also sit where groundwater climbs every spring, which keeps sump pumps working hard.
The short answer
In Como Park we see many sump pump calls, frozen pipes in porches and older water heaters. Houses near Como Lake can have a higher water table in spring, and many 1910s to 1940s homes have enclosed porches with pipes that freeze. We install and repair sump pumps, add battery backups, thaw lines safely and answer our phone 24/7.
Why sump pumps near Como Lake work overtime
When snow melts and April rain soaks the ground around Como Lake, the water table rises fast. In many basements here, the sump pit that seemed dry all winter suddenly runs every few minutes. An old pump with a worn switch or a clogged inlet screen can stall right when it's needed most, and a finished basement pays the price.
We test the pump under load, check the float switch, the check valve and where the discharge empties. A discharge that dumps next to the foundation just cycles the same water back in. We'll route it farther out and make sure it won't freeze shut next winter. If the pump is undersized for your pit, we replace it with one that keeps up.
Battery backups for storm nights
The worst time for a power outage is during a summer thunderstorm, and that's exactly when the sump pump needs to run. Many Como Park homeowners add a battery backup pump after one wet carpet. It sits beside the main pump and kicks on if power fails or the primary pump can't keep pace.
We install backups with their own check valve and an alarm, so you'll hear about trouble before the water reaches the floor. We also show you how to test it each spring. For homes with a history of seepage, pairing a new primary pump and backup is often the calmest solution, especially if you're away from home often.
Frozen pipes in Como Park porches and kitchens
Lots of Como Park houses have enclosed front porches that were once open. Some got a utility sink, a radiator line or a hose bib run through them. Those pipes sit in a space with thin walls and little heat. On a stretch of nights below about 20 degrees, they freeze, and when they thaw, they split.
We thaw frozen lines with gentle heat, never a torch, and look for the split before turning water back on. Then we fix the cause: rerouting pipe into heated space, adding insulation or replacing a sillcock with a frost-free model. If you have no water this morning, shut off the main and call (651) 215-2087.
What shapes plumbing in Como Park
- The homes
- 1910s to 1940s bungalows, Colonials and story-and-a-half homes with enclosed porches
- Around here
- Como Lake, Como Zoo and the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
- Most common call
- Sump pumps overwhelmed by spring groundwater near Como Lake
Plumbing work we do most in Como Park
Every service on our list is available here. These are the calls we take most often from this part of the metro.
Next door to Como Park
Nearby places we cover on the same routes.
Plumbing questions from Como Park
How often should I test the sump pump in my Como Park basement?
Test it each spring before snowmelt and again before summer storms. Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch the pump start, empty it and shut off. If it hums without pumping or runs nonstop, call us. Homes close to Como Lake benefit from testing more often.
Where should a Como Park sump pump discharge line end?
It should empty well away from the foundation, onto ground that slopes away from the house, and never into the sanitary sewer. In Como Park winters, a discharge that runs across the lawn can freeze, so we often add a freeze guard or route it differently.
Can you move a frozen porch pipe in my Como Park house into heated space?
Usually, yes. We can reroute a supply line from the porch wall into an interior wall or basement ceiling, then add a frost-free sillcock if you need outdoor water. It's a simple change that ends the yearly freeze cycle in many Como Park homes.
Plumbing trouble in Como Park? Call now
A real person picks up at any hour. Tell us what you are seeing, and we will tell you what happens next and roughly what it costs.
(651) 215-2087- Phone
- Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Office
- 289 E 7th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101
- Headquarters
- 50666 229th Ave, Bemidji, MN 56601
- Coverage
- Saint Paul and the east metro, see all areas