What the July 2023 cloudburst means for your sump pump
On July 25, 2023, more than two inches of rain and hail fell in about 30 minutes. Water flooded businesses on South Main Street and Bell Street, and the mayor's own basement. The mayor pointed to a 1994 dam burst as the last event that compared.
A sump pump only helps if it has power, a free-moving float, and a discharge line that goes somewhere. Pour a bucket of water into the pit this week and watch it run. If it stalls, our sump pump repair crew can replace the pump before the next storm, not during it.
Calls we take in 44022 around the clock
Dispatch answers day and night for the village and for addresses that use ZIP 44022. These are the situations we see most for homes with deep basements and old pipe runs.
Water coming up through the floor
Seepage at the wall joint or a rising pit after a downpour. Move belongings up and call.
Sewage smell or backup
Old house lines can fail where they leave the building. Stop using water and call.
Frozen supply in an outside wall
Snow-belt winters are hard on pipes in unheated corners of older houses. Open the tap slightly and call.
Water heater failing
A leaking base or a tank that will not hold heat in a large home is a same-day job when the schedule allows.
Remodel plumbing that stalled
Kitchens and baths that move fixtures need a permit in the village. We can help you sort the steps.
Two water sources, one tap
The Village of Chagrin Falls Water Company blends Cleveland Water, drawn from Lake Erie, with groundwater from its own Franklin Street well field. The two are mixed at the Solon Road Booster Station. The system runs about 34 miles of line and serves about 2,500 customers.
The village report does not list a hardness figure for the blend. Cleveland Water's own supply is about 7 grains per gallon, and groundwater is often harder, so your tap may differ from Solon's. Test before you buy a softener, and ask the village utilities if taste changes.
The village reports no lead service lines that need replacement, and none of 26 sites sampled in 2024 went over the action level. That covers the village side. Pipe inside an 1800s house is a separate question, and we can tell you what is there.
Water at the foundation tonight?
Call from the basement stairs if you have to. We will help you decide what to shut off, then send a plumber to 44022.
Century-old village core versus later infill
Homes from the 1800s
- Older cast iron or clay drain lines are common at that age
- Basement walls may seep at stone or block joints
- Pipes in outside walls freeze first
- Remodels often uncover hidden pipe changes
Newer homes in the village
- Plastic drain and supply lines are more likely
- Sump pits are more likely to be built in
- Water heaters are often large and in finished space
- Problems tend to be a failed part, not failed pipe
Symptom to service
| What you notice | What it usually points to | Page to read |
|---|---|---|
| Water at the wall after rain | Pump failure or groundwater pressure | Basement waterproofing |
| Gurgling drains, damp floor drain | Blocked or broken lateral | Drain cleaning |
| Hot water runs out fast | Sediment or failed element | Water heater replacement |
| Cold spot or hissing in a wall | Supply leak or frozen pipe | Leak detection |
| Pump runs without stopping | Bad check valve or stuck float | Sump pump repair |
Pick the closest row and call. We would rather confirm the cause in person than guess over the phone.
The village plumbing permit and what it asks of you
Chagrin Falls issues a residential plumbing permit, and plumbing contractors must register with the village before starting. Inspections need 24 hours' notice, and processing can take up to 10 business days. The Building and Zoning office answers weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Plan for that delay on any remodel. A leak or a failed fixture is a repair and can go the same day, but ask the village whether your job needs a permit before we start. Our plumbing installation team can walk you through the sequence.
A village sewer system that is fighting extra water
The village owns its sewers and wastewater plant, not a regional district. The plant was built in 1972 and updated in 1992, and the 2022 annual report says untreated sewage can reach the Chagrin River in extreme overflows. Relining a section of East Washington Street kept about 400,000 gallons of groundwater out of the sewer.
That matters in your house because clean water should not enter a sanitary line. Keep sump discharge and downspouts pointed outside, and call us if you are unsure where yours goes. If a backup hits, the drain cleaning visit starts at your cleanout.
If water is coming in before the plumber reaches you
1Cut the power to wet areas
If the water is near the panel or outlets, keep out. Switch off only what you can reach while dry.
2Shut off the main
Turn the main valve clockwise if a pipe is the source. If rain is the source, skip this and keep the pump running.
3Check the pump and its outlet
Make sure it is plugged in and the discharge hose is not kinked or frozen. Do not reach in while the pump is live.
4Photograph and lift
Photos first for the insurer, then raise boxes, rugs, and electronics off the floor.
Chagrin Falls service area
Getting here from Solon
We are north-northeast of Solon's Aurora Road office, with a drive that depends on traffic along Ohio 91 and Chagrin Boulevard. Tell the dispatcher whether water is rising or only damp, and what the pump is doing. That helps us bring the right parts the first time.
Neighbors compare us with crews in Bedford Heights or Twinsburg. The same dispatch desk handles all three.
What Chagrin Falls homeowners ask us
Yes. We dispatch 24/7 to Chagrin Falls, including storm nights and holidays. Call, say what you see, and we will tell you what to shut off while a plumber heads out from Solon.
The village uses 44022 for Village Hall, Township Hall, and its utilities office. Nearby 44023 covers the Bainbridge Township side to the east, and we serve calls there too on the same dispatch.
If your mail has a Bentleyville or Moreland Hills name, give us the street address and we will confirm it is in range.
Yes. The village runs its own water company and its own sewer plant. Water is a blend of Cleveland Water and village wells. Call the village utilities for main or street-side issues, and call us for pipes inside the property.
Confirm power, lift the float, and pour water into the pit to see it discharge. If the pump is old or rattles, replace it before heavy rain. A battery backup is worth asking about.
The village issues a residential plumbing permit, and contractors must register first. Repairs often go the same day, but remodels need the permit process, so confirm with Building and Zoning.
Yes. Houses from the 1800s often carry old drain lines and changed pipe runs behind walls. A camera inspection of the main line shows what is there without opening the floor.
Sources and standards behind this page
Local facts and rules on this page come from these public sources. Check the current version before relying on a permit or code detail.