Sump Pump Installation in Des Moines, IA
A sump pump gives the water that gathers under a basement floor a way up and out. This page explains pits, pumps, backup power and where the discharge belongs for basement homes across Des Moines, IA, in Polk County, Iowa. Send the short form, and your request to be contacted goes to a single independent contractor working near you.
Not sure if we cover your area? Check now ↓
Basement Estimate Request
Takes about 30 seconds. One local contractor gets it and contacts you.
Your details go to one independent contractor who works around Des Moines, IA, and that contractor gets in touch with you directly. See our Referral Marketing Disclosure.
When a Basement Needs a Sump Pump
A basin sits below the slab, collecting water from drain tile or seepage. As it fills, a float trips the switch and the pump pushes the water up a discharge pipe. A check valve stops it sliding back each time the motor shuts off.
The last glacier to reach Iowa stopped where Des Moines stands about 14,000 years ago, leaving pebbly, clay-rich till (Iowa Geological Survey), and soils formed in it can stay saturated 4 to 6 feet down from March into June (USDA NRCS), right beside basement walls. Census survey data puts roughly 27% of the city's homes at 1939 or older. Many newer basements in Polk City, Bondurant, Pleasant Hill and Norwalk, IA came with a pit and pump, yet pumps wear out and outdoor lines can freeze or clog.
Pumped water should land outdoors, clear of your walls and your neighbor's, never in a floor drain, laundry tub or sanitary sewer. Connecting a sump line to any drain or sewer pipe counts as plumbing, for a plumber licensed by the State of Iowa under a plumbing permit (check one on the Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board's public search or at 866-280-1521). A new circuit or outlet may need a licensed electrician and an electrical permit.
At Des Moines addresses, the City's own Private Property Protection Program can reimburse redirecting a sump's discharge off the sanitary sewer when a licensed plumber does it under a plumbing permit. Owners apply to the City directly and need its pre-approval before any work, so ask the Clean Water Program Office, (515) 323-8165, before planning around it; the Iowa rules page has more.
Jobs That Fall Under Sump Pump Installation
- A first pit. Water at the floor edge and no basin: one is cut into the slab, usually fed by interior drain tile.
- A tired pump. It hums without moving water or cycles every few seconds.
- Backup and alarm. A battery-powered second pump and a high-water alarm cover the hours a storm knocks out power.
- A blocked outdoor line. A pipe that freezes or fills with debris sends water back toward the pit.
- A hose to the drain. A line into a floor drain or laundry tub needs rerouting outdoors; pipe connections are a state-licensed plumber's job.
How the Work Usually Goes
- Your description. Say when water appears and whether a basin exists; one independent contractor gets in touch.
- A look downstairs. The contractor checks the slab, any old pit, the nearest outlet and a route to the yard.
- Details in writing. Pump, basin, check valve, backup, alarm, discharge point and winter protection for the outdoor pipe.
- Permits and trades. In Des Moines, plumbing takes a permit pulled by a state-licensed plumber; other parts of the job are confirmed by the contractor with the City's Permit and Development Center (515-283-4200). Each town has its own office.
- A bucket test. A few gallons tipped into the basin should kick the pump on and come out in the yard.
Price Ranges With Sources
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical basement waterproofing project | about $3,000 to $10,000 (average about $5,000) | Fixr national (2026) |
| Interior perimeter drain, per linear foot | $40 to $120 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Sump pump installation | $600 to $2,500 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Epoxy crack injection, per crack | $250 to $1,000 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Waterproof paint or sealant, per sq ft | $1 to $8 | Fixr national (2026) |
These are national figures, not Iowa ones; the sump row runs from a pump swap to a new pit with backup and alarm. Backwater valves, ejectors and sewer tie-ins are a state-licensed plumber's to price. See the cost guide or the cost calculator.
What Makes This Easier
One form stands in for a round of calls. It costs nothing to send, and you get nothing of value for it. Behind the form is a referral and advertising service, not a contractor, plumber or electrician: no sump work, no prices. Contractors may pay the site a flat advertising fee, which is a free trial at the moment.
Look up the contractor's Iowa registration yourself through DIAL's public lookup, request proof of insurance and a few nearby past jobs, and get a written contract naming the pump, discharge point and price. Spread payments over the job instead of paying up front.
Questions Homeowners Ask
Where should the sump water go?
Outdoors, onto ground sloping away from your walls and your neighbor's, never into a floor drain, laundry tub or sanitary sewer. If unsure, ask a state-licensed plumber or your city.
How is a sump different from a backwater valve?
A sump handles groundwater under the slab. A backwater valve sits on the sewer line and closes when the sewer pushes back toward the house: plumbing for a state-licensed plumber with a permit. Water up a floor drain points to the sewer: in Des Moines, report it to Public Works at (515) 283-4950 or on the myDSMmobile app.
Is a battery backup worth having?
Often. On July 2–4, 2026, the National Weather Service reported 5 to 10 inches as common in northern Polk County, and on July 20 the metro saw 4 to 6 inches. Rain like that keeps a pit busy for hours, and storms can cut power.
Other Basement Fixes
Since a pump can move only the water that gets to it, basement drainage and full basement waterproofing tend to come up as well; one damp spot may suit basement leak repair or foundation crack repair.
Ask About a Sump Pump
On the form, say where water collects, what weather brings it and whether a basin is already there. One independent contractor in the Des Moines area receives it and gets in touch; ask that contractor about the pump, backup and price, and leave any pipe connection to a state-licensed plumber. The form is the place to start.