In McHenry County, your sump pump is the one piece of plumbing standing between a heavy spring storm and a flooded basement. Ludwig Family Plumbing installs, replaces, and repairs sump pumps across Lake in the Hills and the surrounding Fox River communities — and we build in the backup protection that our clay soils and power-flickering storms demand.
Whether your pump is running non-stop, cycling oddly, or dead when you need it most, we'll test the float, check valve, discharge line, and pit, and give you a clear recommendation instead of a scare.
Signs You Need Sump Pump Install & Repair
- Pump runs constantly or won't shut off
- Pump is silent during rain — or the pit is filling
- Grinding, rattling, or humming without pumping
- Water on the basement floor near the pit
- No battery backup, or a backup that's years old
- Pump is more than 7–10 years old
Why battery backup isn't optional here
The worst basement floods happen when a storm knocks out the power and your primary pump — the one that runs on that same power — goes dark exactly when the water is pouring in. A battery backup sump pump keeps pumping through the outage. For finished basements, we also recommend a water alarm and, in some homes, a water-powered backup as a third layer.
Sizing and installing it right
An undersized pump can't keep up; an oversized one short-cycles and wears out early. We size the pump to your pit and inflow, install a reliable check valve to stop backflow, make sure the discharge carries water well away from the foundation (and won't freeze shut in winter), and test the full cycle before we leave.
- Primary pump sized to your pit and water inflow
- Battery backup so storms and outages don't sink you
- New check valve to stop water draining back into the pit
- Freeze-resistant discharge routing away from the foundation
What affects the price
Every basement is different. The main cost factors:
- Primary pump only vs. primary + battery backup system
- Pump horsepower and quality tier
- New pit, check valve, or discharge line work
- Adding a water alarm or secondary backup
Our Sump Pump Install & Repair Process
Every job follows the same clear path — so you know what happens next and there are no surprises along the way.
- 1
Test the whole system
We check the pump, float, check valve, discharge line, and pit — and whether any battery backup still holds a charge.
- 2
Size it to your inflow
We match pump horsepower to your pit and how fast water actually comes in during a storm, not an average day.
- 3
Build in backup
We recommend and install a battery backup so an outage during a storm doesn't leave you with a dark pump and a rising pit.
- 4
Fix the discharge
We set a reliable check valve and route the discharge well away from the foundation so it can't drain back or freeze shut.
- 5
Cycle-test before we leave
We fill the pit and confirm the full on-off cycle — and the backup switchover — so you know it works before the next storm.
Why McHenry County Homeowners Choose Ludwig
In McHenry County, a sump pump is flood insurance you can see — so we size it right and build in the backup our storms demand.
Family-Owned & Local
A family name you can trust, serving McHenry County since 2016. You reach us, not a call center.
24/7 Emergency Service
Burst pipe or backup at 2 a.m.? We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Fully licensed Illinois plumbers — your home and your investment are protected.
68 Five-Star Reviews
Neighbors across McHenry County rate us 4.9 stars for honest, quality work.
Sump Pump Install & Repair Across McHenry County & Beyond
We install and service sump pumps from the flood-prone streets of Algonquin and McHenry to Round Lake, Fox Lake, and the Chain O'Lakes communities.
Based in Lake in the Hills, we cover the whole county and the surrounding Fox Valley. Find your town on our service-areas page, or start with Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Cary, Huntley.
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Sump Pump Install & Repair FAQs
Most sump pumps last 7–10 years. If yours is in that range, replacing it before storm season is far cheaper than a flooded basement. We can test the pump and tell you honestly how much life is left.
Constant running usually points to a stuck float, a failed check valve letting water drain back in, a pump that's undersized for the inflow, or a high water table. We diagnose the cause rather than just swapping the pump.
In McHenry County, absolutely. Our worst basement floods happen during storms that also cut the power. A battery backup keeps pumping when the grid — and your primary pump — is down.
Standard homeowners policies often exclude sump-pump failure and backup unless you carry a specific water-backup rider. Check your policy, and keep documentation of any professional installation and maintenance.
Absolutely — that's the smart time to do it. We install and replace pumps and battery backups throughout the county before spring and fall storms, which is far cheaper than a flooded basement during one.