
Sewer Repair
Tree roots, cracked clay pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.
Northbrook storms don't give much warning, and a sump pump that fails mid-downpour can flood a finished basement in an hour. We repair, replace and install sump pumps and battery backups, with a flat price before we start. Our headquarters is on Techny Road, and our line is open 24/7.

Pumps usually fail during the storm that needs them most. Act on these signs before it rains:
A pump that runs nonstop on a dry day may have a stuck float, a failed check valve or a high water table it can't keep up with.
A jammed impeller or a burned-out motor. Water will keep rising in the pit until it spills over.
In a Northbrook winter, a discharge line that isn't sloped or protected can freeze solid, and the pump can't push water out.
Most sump pumps last around 7 to 10 years. If you don't know how old yours is, it's worth a check before spring.
Northbrook's biggest storms, from the September 2008 floods to the June 2013 storm that brought about 165 flood calls, all tested the sump pumps in town. Here's what we see when they fail.
The April 2013 storm hit while the ground was still frozen, so water ran off instead of soaking in. Early spring is when sump pits fill fastest, and when an old pump is most likely to give out.
The same storms that fill the pit knock out power. A battery backup keeps pumping when the primary pump can't, which is the whole point of having it.
Sump water should discharge outside, away from the foundation, and never into the sanitary sewer. If yours ties into the sewer line, it adds storm water to the pipe that backs up into basements. We'll check and reroute it.
It works the same whether the pump died mid-storm or you want it replaced before the season starts.
We check the pump, float, check valve, discharge line and backup, not just the motor.
If a part fixes it, we'll tell you. If the pump is near the end of its life, we'll explain your options, including a battery backup.
You get a flat-rate price before any work begins, with no surprise add-ons.

4.7 stars from 5,669+ Google reviews across all J. Blanton locations.
"We had water in the basement. They were able to come out right away. I felt no pressure from Bryan. He was very thorough and explained all my options. Then Pete C. came out to install the sump pump within a couple of hours. He was very quick and did a great job."
"Welhem and Josh have been so kind with my flooded crawl space and sump pump replacement process. It’s my first time owning a home and while these things can be stressful, they have been wonderful about getting things resolved as quickly as possible."
"Julian and Christian were at my house and flushed my water heater they also gave me a lot of information on my pumps that I didn’t know thank you j Blanton for keeping me informed"
If your basement is finished, yes. The storms that fill the pit also cut the power.
If you have a finished basement or anything valuable down there, yes. Heavy storms are when the pit fills fastest, and they're also when the power is most likely to go out. A battery backup keeps pumping when the primary pump stops.
Before spring storms and after a long dry spell. Pour water in the pit and watch it start.
Test it in late winter, before spring storms, and again after a long dry stretch. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump turns on, empties the pit and shuts off. If it doesn't, call before the next rain.
Most last around 7 to 10 years. Older or noisy pumps are worth checking before storm season.
Most sump pumps last around 7 to 10 years, less if they run often. If yours is more than 10 years old, runs constantly or makes new noises, it's worth having it checked before storm season.
No. A sump pump handles groundwater. Sewer backups need a different fix.
No. A sump pump removes groundwater. Water or sewage coming up through a floor drain is a sewer-side problem and needs a different fix, like clearing the line, a backflow valve or an overhead sewer system. We'll help you figure out which one you're dealing with.
It depends on the pump, backup and pit condition. You get a flat price before we start.
It depends on the pump type, whether you add a battery backup, the condition of the pit and discharge line, and access. We give you a flat-rate price before any work begins.
Annual Protection Plan
Most plumbing problems start small. The No Drip Club brings a J. Blanton plumber to your home for regular maintenance, so small issues get caught before they turn into big repairs.


Tree roots, cracked clay pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.

Repair and replacement for tank and tankless water heaters that leak, make noise or run out of hot water too fast.

Slow or clogged kitchen, bathroom and basement drains, cleared and checked.

Leaky faucets, worn-out shut-off valves and new kitchen and bathroom fixture installs.

Gas line repair, leak detection and gas fireplace service.

Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Our Northbrook office is at 1945 Techny Road, Suite 11, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve Glenview, Northfield, Deerfield, Wheeling, Prospect Heights, Lincolnshire, Winnetka and more.