Bilge Pump Not Working
Bilge pump won’t run, runs nonstop, or only works on manual? Here’s what usually fails and why it matters.
Ethan, the owner and mechanic, answers the phone · Open 7 days a week
- Same / next day availability
- On-site & marina service
About This Problem
A working bilge pump is basic safety equipment. Pumps and float switches sit in water and corrode, and they usually fail quietly until the day you need them.
Bilge pump not kicking on? Call and tell Ethan what you’re seeing before the water gets higher.
Call 786-351-5363Most Common Causes
These are the causes we find most often.
Failed float switch
The pump works on manual but not automatically.
Stuck float switch
The pump runs nonstop and drains the battery.
Corroded wiring
Connections in the bilge corrode and lose power.
Blown fuse
Check the fuse first when nothing happens.
Burnt-out pump
Pumps fail from age, debris, or running dry.
What We’ve Found on Real Jobs
From Ethan’s job log across South Florida.
Float switches
Two bad float switches, one for a sump pump and one on the forward bilge, found on a check-up.
Pump and floats
Two bad bilge pumps replaced and new floats installed.
Bilge pump at the end of the day
A bad bilge pump replaced at the end of a long day.
Undersized bilge
A bilge pump upgraded to the correct size.
What You Can Check Before You Call
- Run the pump on manual
- Lift the float switch by hand
- Check the fuse
- Look for debris around the pump
When to Call
If your boat is kept in the water, don’t wait on a bad bilge pump. Call and we’ll fix it.
No call center. No front desk.
When You Call, the Owner Picks Up
Every call goes straight to Ethan, the owner of EG Marine Services and the mechanic who does the work. There’s no receptionist taking a message and no waiting on a callback from someone who’s never seen your boat.
Tell him what’s going on: the alarm on the display, the noise at idle, the engine that won’t turn over. Ethan knows Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, and the rest of what runs in South Florida inside and out, so you’ll usually get a straight answer on the first call, whether that’s something you can check yourself or a visit to your dock.
- Straight answers, not a script
- Diagnostic questions answered on the phone
- Honest advice, even when the fix is simple
- The person you talk to is the one who shows up
Ethan
Marine mechanic
Describe what the boat is doing and get a real answer from the mechanic, not a message taker.
Call Ethan: 786-351-5363Open 7 days a week
Get a Marine Toilet & Pump Repair Scheduled
Call Ethan directly786-351-5363Open 7 days a week · No call center or front desk, you talk to the person doing the work
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test my bilge pump?
Switch it to manual. If it runs, lift the float switch to test automatic mode.
Why does my bilge pump keep running?
A stuck float switch, or a real leak filling the bilge. Find the water source.
How long do bilge pumps last?
Several years with care, but float switches often fail first.