Highland sits at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, and while most homes are on slabs, some lots collect storm runoff or have rooms below grade that rely on a pump. When one stops, the usual causes are a stuck float, a failed check valve, power loss or a worn motor. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Highland.
Local conditions in Highland
Highland is divided into Highland, East Highland and West Highland, and its growth came from citrus groves and the railroads. Point2Homes data puts the median year built at 1983, with about 44 percent of homes built before 1980. Older houses near the historic district and newer tracts both tend to be slab-built, so a pump usually means a particular feature: a lower-level room, a garage cut into a slope, or a yard where runoff from higher ground collects against a wall during heavy winter storms.
East Valley Water District provides water and sewer collection where available, and the City's plan-check rules require new structures to connect to sewer subject to EVWD review. That sewer is for household wastewater. A sump pump should discharge to the yard, while a sewage ejector serving a lower bathroom is the one pump meant to feed the sewer.
Pump types compared
| Pump | Job | Discharge | Typical trouble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sump pump | Removes groundwater or storm runoff from a pit | Outdoors, away from the foundation | Stuck float after long idle periods |
| Sewage ejector | Lifts wastewater from fixtures below the sewer line | Into the sewer lateral via a sealed, vented basin | Clogs, odors, failed seals |
| Battery backup | Takes over when power or the main pump fails | Shares the sump discharge | Old battery that will not hold a charge |
Signs to watch
- Water standing in the pit after rain with no motor sound
- Humming without flow
- Rapid on-off cycling
- Damp walls or flooring in a lower room
- A sewer smell near an ejector basin
Timing and seasonal notes
Being closer to the mountains, parts of Highland see colder winter nights than the valley floor. An outdoor discharge line that holds water can freeze on those nights, so it should slope to drain completely between cycles. Test the pump in the fall with a bucket of water, clear silt from the basin, and make sure the outdoor end is open. The City of Highland Building & Safety Division says permits are required for plumbing systems, so a new basin, discharge line or ejector will likely need one. When you call, say whether the pit is in a lower room, a garage or the yard, and whether the trouble started during a storm. If water is near the outlet, shut off that circuit at the panel before anyone goes near the pit.
Sump Pumps questions in Highland
Can a discharge line freeze here?
What is the difference between a sump pump and a sewage ejector pump?
Do I need a permit to replace or add a pump?
Does a pump that sits idle all summer need any care?
More plumbing services in Highland
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