1-Tom-Plumber Cleveland urges homeowners to test sump pumps before fall storms

1-Tom-Plumber Cleveland is urging homeowners in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties to check sump pumps, clear drains and review insurance coverage before the region’s heaviest storm period. The warning comes as the company says Cleveland’s combined sewer system and power outages can turn a failed pump into a basement flood fast.

Why it matters: - Basement flooding can start fast during late-summer and fall storms, especially when a sump pump has not been tested since spring. - Cleveland’s combined sewer system raises the stakes because stormwater and sewage share the same pipes in much of the city. - Many homeowners may not realize sewer backup cleanup is often excluded from standard Ohio homeowners policies.

What happened: - 1-Tom-Plumber Cleveland is asking homeowners across Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties to test sump pumps, clear floor drains and confirm insurance coverage before the region’s busiest storm season. - The Eastlake-based plumbing company says August is the best time to find a failing pump, not October. - The company says basement flooding calls follow weather with almost no delay. - A spokesperson said many homeowners assume a sump pump works because it worked last year, then discover a failure during a storm, often while the power is out.

The details: - Cleveland Water Pollution Control reports that combined sewers make up 91 percent of the city’s system. - When heavy rain overloads combined sewers, excess water can discharge through relief points into Lake Erie or a nearby stream. - The overflow can also back up into the lowest opening in the line, often a basement floor drain. - The sewer lateral from the house to the curb belongs to the property owner, while municipal responsibility generally begins at the property line. - A collapsed or root-filled lateral is the homeowner’s repair. - Root intrusion is common in older neighborhoods with clay pipe and mature trees. - Standard Ohio homeowners policies often do not cover sewer backup cleanup without a separate endorsement. - Those endorsements can carry their own deductible and coverage cap. - 1-Tom-Plumber Cleveland says its service covers stopping the water, drying the property, completing the repairs and working with the insurance carrier when a claim is filed. - Restoration work is supported through affiliate Pine Ridge Restoration. - The company recommends four checks before the next storm: test the sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit, consider a battery backup, keep floor drains and catch basins clear of leaves and debris, and inspect the lateral with a camera if the home has a history of slow drains or backups. - The company says a sump pump test takes about ninety seconds. - A battery backup can help because the same storms that flood basements often cut power. - A partially blocked line is more likely to fail under storm load. - The company says everything on that list is cheaper than a finished basement.

Between the lines: - The warning blends mechanical risk, sewer infrastructure and insurance gaps into one message: homeowners need to prepare before the first major storm exposes a problem. - The company is also positioning itself as a one-call response option for water removal, repairs and restoration. - Menu-based pricing, live dispatchers and no dispatch fee when work is completed are meant to reduce uncertainty during an emergency.

What's next: - Homeowners who want to check service can call 1-440-230-3734 or email cleveland@1tomplumber.com. - 1-Tom-Plumber Cleveland says it provides emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with technicians giving an estimated arrival time by call or text. - The company operates from 36300 Lakeland Blvd, Unit 7, Eastlake, OH 44095, and serves Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties, including Beachwood, Chagrin Falls, Chardon, Eastlake, Euclid, Mentor, Painesville, Shaker Heights and Wickliffe.

The bottom line: - August is the time to find a dead sump pump, not during the storm that floods the basement.