Quincy · Sump Pumps
From Houghs Neck to Wollaston, Quincy basements take on water from storm tides and groundwater. Get connected with an independent local plumber who serves Quincy for sump pump work.
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy meets the water along 27 miles of coastline, and its flood maps show it: coastal VE and AE zones are the most common flood designations in the city. A state case study singles out the Adams Shore coastline, Houghs Neck included, as highly susceptible to coastal flooding and home to most of Quincy's repetitive-loss properties.
It helps to be clear about what a pump can and can't do there. A sump pump moves groundwater that rises under the slab or seeps through the foundation. When a storm tide like the 1991 Perfect Storm or Storm Riley in March 2018 overtops the shoreline, water arrives faster than any household pump can move it, so the pump is one layer of protection, not the whole plan.
Away from the shore, wet basements more often come from rain and groundwater than from tides. Either way, you can call or send a request to be connected with an independent local plumber who serves Quincy.
A discharge line that empties into a laundry sink or floor drain sends groundwater into the sewer, which the city doesn't allow.
If the basement gets wet after a coastal storm even though water never came over the street, groundwater under the house may be rising.
Equipment in damp shoreline basements corrodes. Rust on the housing or crusty residue on fittings means it's time for a closer look.
Coastal storms that bring high water often bring outages too. If your only pump plugs into the wall, it stops when the power does.
Local knowledge
One city rule and one set of maps matter most before anyone touches a Quincy sump pump.
No Sewer Hookups
Quincy's Water, Sewer and Drain Division lists a sump pump or downspout piped directly into the sewer as unauthorized sewer use. Groundwater in the sewer takes up room meant for wastewater, so a new or rerouted pump should send its water outdoors.
Source: City of Quincy
Flood Zone Maps
The city's flood hazard page explains that VE zones face waves of 3 feet or more and AE zones face smaller waves. Knowing your zone helps decide how high to mount the backup battery and alarm, and the FEMA maps can be viewed at the Thomas Crane Public Library or the Engineering Department on Sea Street.
Source: City of Quincy
Seawall Shoreline
The state case study counts roughly 12 miles of seawall, 5.6 miles of it owned by the city. Homes behind a wall can still collect water in the basement during a long storm, which is exactly when a working pump and a backup matter.
Online Permits
Quincy's Inspectional Services Department has moved all of its permits online, and its Plumbing and Gas Department inspects new installations and repairs. Wiring for a new pump outlet falls under the separate wiring inspector.
Source: City of Quincy
Right now
When seawater or groundwater is in the basement, electricity is the first danger.
If water is near outlets, a dryer, the boiler, or any cord, don't go down the stairs. Get everyone out of the basement and call 911 or National Grid from a safe place.
If officials issue evacuation or shelter guidance for shoreline neighborhoods, follow it. The basement can wait until the storm has passed.
Once it's safe, notice whether water came through a window or door, seeped through the walls, or rose through the floor. That tells a plumber whether a pump is even the right fix.
If you're using a portable pump, run its hose outdoors and away from the foundation, never into a sink, toilet, or floor drain.
What to expect
Whether it's a single-family house or a basement shared by several units, expect the plumber to check the pit, float switch, check valve, and the full path of the discharge line. If that line ends in a sink, floor drain, or sewer pipe, rerouting it through the wall to the outside will likely be part of the job.
Near the shore, ask about corrosion-resistant fittings and whether the backup battery and alarm can sit on a shelf or bracket above the usual water level. Plumbing permits are filed online with Inspectional Services, and a separate wiring permit applies if a new outlet goes in.
More than a third of Quincy's housing units were built in 1939 or earlier, so leave room in the plan for surprises once an old slab is opened.
Hire smart
Plumbing and gas fitting in Massachusetts require a license from the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, and most plumbing work needs a permit from the town's plumbing inspector.
Ask for the plumber's Massachusetts license number and confirm it with the state's online lookup before the visit.
Have the plumber show you the discharge route and confirm it ends outdoors rather than anywhere connected to the sewer.
Ask which parts tend to corrode in salty, damp air and how often they should be checked or replaced.
If you want a battery backup or alarm, make sure the estimate names the model and roughly how long it can keep the pump running.
Costs
Rerouting a discharge that now goes into the sewer can be simple or involved, depending on how far the pit sits from an outside wall and whether the new pipe has to cross finished space.
Corrosion-resistant parts, a raised mount for the backup, a high-water alarm, and permit fees all affect the total. Get at least two written estimates that list the same items, and ask each plumber what they'd do differently in a flood-zone basement.
More help in Quincy
Every page below is written for Quincy homes. Or start from the Quincy plumbing guide.
Learning Center
A short list of the right questions tells you more about a plumber than any ad. Use these on the phone, during the site visit, and before you sign off on an estimate.
Read the guide
Massachusetts has some of the clearest plumbing rules in the country. Here is how to use them to pick a plumber with confidence, whether the job is a dripping shutoff or a full repipe.
Read the guideQuestions
Still not sure? Send a short request and a local pro can answer the specifics.
It can. Those shoreline areas hold most of the city's repeat flood-loss properties, so plumbers there often suggest more capacity, a backup, and equipment mounted off the floor. A pump still can't stop surge water coming over the street; it handles water rising from below.
Yes. Quincy treats a sump pump that drains into the sewer as unauthorized use, and a laundry tub drains to the sewer. A plumber can reroute the line so it discharges outdoors.
FEMA flood maps can be viewed at the Thomas Crane Public Library and at the Engineering Department on Sea Street, and the city's flood hazard web page explains what each zone means.
If storms where you live bring both high water and outages, a backup keeps the pit draining while the power is out. Ask how long the battery would run your pump and how to test it.
Get connected
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