Elsmore Plumbing LLC
Locally owned, this Rochester plumber installs sump pumps and cleans drains, and it works with Kohler products among its brands.
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Basement flooding and sewer backup in Rochester
Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.
10 pros in Rochester
Rochester has a flood record that shapes how people think about wet basements. In the July 5-6, 1978 flood, the Rochester gage on the South Fork Zumbro River crested at 23.36 feet, an all-time record against a flood stage of 12 feet. That event led to a flood control project completed in 1995, built to protect the city against a 200-year recurrence interval flood. A project like that deals with river flooding, though, and it does not stop a sump pump from being overwhelmed or a sewer line from backing up into your basement. Minnesota's Department of Commerce notes that neither flood insurance nor a typical homeowner's policy covers sewer back-ups or sump pumps that cannot handle runoff from a major downpour. A separate product or endorsement is needed. Before you hire for a backwater valve, sump pump, drain or waterproofing job, ask what failure the work is meant to handle, get the scope in writing, and check your own coverage so you know what is and is not protected.
Source: National Weather Service La Crosse (weather.gov/arx) (source, opens in a new tab)
Valor Mechanical
Headquartered in Stewartville, this family-owned mechanical contractor does sump pump work for Rochester, Oronoco, Eyota, Kasson and Pine Island.
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All-Star Basements, LLC
Working on French drains, sump pumps and basement waterproofing, this Rochester firm also addresses flooded basements. It offers a lifetime warranty and free estimates.
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Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains
Around the clock, every day, this New Hope plumber repairs sump pumps and handles drain cleaning, including video inspections and main line repair. Its listed towns include Minneapolis, Bloomington, Maple Grove and Edina.
Also serves Minneapolis–Saint Paul
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Tonna Mechanical: Heating, A/C, Water Treatment, Plumbing & Duct Cleaning
Since 1976, the Rochester mechanical contractor has repaired and installed sump pumps and cleaned drains around the clock, every day. It works with Carrier equipment and also serves Stewartville.
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K & S Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical
Family-owned since 1988, this Rochester heating and cooling firm also handles sump pump and drain cleaning work in Rochester and Kasson. Backup power work and financing are also offered.
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Plumbing Solutions LLC
Founded in 2021, this Stewartville plumber installs sump pumps and offers emergency service, also serving Rochester and Eyota. Free estimates are available.
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Rochester Plumbing & Heating
Operating since 1922, this Rochester plumbing and heating firm installs sump pumps and cleans drains around the clock, with free estimates also offered.
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Water Works Plumbing
This Oronoco plumber works on sump pumps and offers emergency service and free estimates.
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Hero: Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Drains, Ducts & Electrical
Open around the clock, this Bloomington firm handles sewer line repair alongside sump pump and drain work. Its listed towns include Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Plymouth and Eden Prairie.
Also serves Minneapolis–Saint Paul
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What to know in Rochester
The Minnesota Department of Health says to wear an N-95 respirator, rubber boots, rubber gloves, long sleeves and pants, and goggles when cleaning flooded or water-damaged buildings, where mold, bacteria and viruses may be present. It also says to throw away porous items that touched flood water or have visible mold, such as wallboard, insulation and carpeting.
Before you hire
Ask which permits the job needs and who will get them; your municipal building department can tell you before work starts.
Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.
Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.
Questions about hiring in Rochester
Does my homeowner's insurance cover a sewer back-up in Rochester?
Usually not. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says neither flood insurance nor a typical homeowner's policy covers damage from sewer back-ups or from sump pumps unable to handle runoff from a major downpour. You need a separate product or endorsement, so ask your insurer before a storm, not after. Minnesota Department of Commerce (source, opens in a new tab)
Did the flood control project make basement protection unnecessary?
No. The project finished in 1995 was built after the 1978 flash floods to protect Rochester against a 200-year recurrence interval flood event. That addresses river flooding. Sump pump overload and sewer back-ups are separate problems, so ask a contractor which risk your basement actually faces. National Weather Service La Crosse (weather.gov/arx) (source, opens in a new tab)
What should a quote for basement flooding work include?
Look for a written scope naming the equipment, such as the pump, valve or drain type, plus the area covered, the materials, who handles any permit, the warranty terms, and the payment schedule. Ask for the same details from each contractor so the quotes can be compared fairly.
How do I check who may do the work?
Ask the contractor for their licence or registration details and proof of insurance, and confirm them with the issuing body. Plumbing work such as backwater valves or drain connections may need a permit, so ask who will pull it and request a copy.