# Why is my sump pump running constantly? (Kansas City)

> Premier Gutters KC - NDS-certified drainage contractor. (816) 469-9563. Published pricing.

**Short answer:** Usually it isn't broken - it's recycling. The discharge dumps water a few feet from the house, KC clay sends it back down the wall into the pit, and the pump lifts the same gallons again. Fix: a buried discharge line ($300-$700) to a pop-up emitter far from the house - not a new pump.

## The five causes, in order of frequency
1. Recycling loop -> bury the discharge line, $300-$700
2. Downspouts feeding the pit -> buried downspout extensions, $300-$700/line
3. Stuck float switch -> watch a cycle; the float should ride free
4. Failed check valve -> water rushes back down after each cycle
5. Genuinely high groundwater -> the pump is doing real work; upgrade to cast iron ($1,500-$2,800) + battery backup

Spend in that order. Free assessments.
Full page: https://premiergutterskc.com/answers/sump-pump-running-constantly-kansas-city/