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My basement sump pump died during the spring thaw and it cost me $4,500

The old one was original to the house, maybe 20 years old. I knew it was a risk but kept putting off the replacement. Then we got that heavy rain in early April. Came downstairs to an inch of water across the entire rec room. The pump just gave out. Had to call an emergency flood service. They had to pull up the laminate flooring, cut out drywall, and set up industrial fans for three days. The new pump and backup battery system were about $1,200. The real killer was the water damage repair. Anyone have a reliable plumber in the south side for sump pump installs? I don't want to get caught again.
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felixfisher
Dropped five grand on a basement swimming pool I never wanted. The WORST part is my wife keeps calling it my "stupid tax" for procrastinating. That home warranty idea is cute but check the fine print. Most of them have a 30 day waiting period and don't cover existing problems. Plus they'll send the cheapest guy who does a half assed job. I learned the HARD way that a $1200 pump with a backup battery is cheaper than a $4500 flood bill. Now I'm checking my water heater like it's a bomb about to go off. Every little drip makes me jump.
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umamartin
umamartin1mo ago
My neighbor on Elm Street had the same thing happen last year, a fifteen year old water heater that finally quit. It feels like we're all living in houses full of ticking time bombs, you know? We replace phones every two years but expect these big, hidden machines to run forever. That $4,500 bill is the exact kind of lesson that makes you check everything else in a panic.
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black.pat
black.pat1mo ago
Ever try a home warranty for stuff like that?
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