Sump Pump Installation Tips from Roto-Rooter

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SUMP PUMP INSTALLATION TIPS FROM ROTO-ROOTER

If your basement is constantly flooding and you know that your plumbing system isn’t to blame, perhaps sump pump installation is the answer. When everything else checks out during a full system-inspection, our certified plumbing technicians usually discover that it is the land the house is sitting on top of that is causing the bulk of flooding issues in particular properties. In an effort to educate homeowners on this issue, Roto-Rooter recommends that basement homes with drainage problems have a sump system installed. This is a major job and we don’t recommend that most do-it-yourselfers try to tackle the problem. You’re better off working with an experienced basement waterproofing company or experienced and licensed plumber.

MATERIALS

• Demolition hammer
• Ten to fifteen-gallon sump basin
• Filtration cloth
• Gravel
• Stone paver
• Sump pump
• PVC pipe
• PVC glue
• Power drill and hole cutting attachments
• Sealant caulk
• Cement mix and mixer

ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETION

1 Day

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR SUMP PUMP

Use the following sump pump installation guide for a water-free basement:

First, make sure to locate exactly where the bulk of the water is gathering (usually the lowest corner) in the basement. Once this place has been determined, use the demolition hammer to break a hole into the floor exposing the water.

Second, take the sump basin and cut a large hole on the bottom of it and drill some one inch holds around the sides. This will make it easier for water to fill the tank.

Next, place the basin into the hole in the basement floor and then pour gravel around the outside of it. Add a little bit of gravel to the bottom of the pit. Once the gravel is about an inch deep and spread out evenly, put the stone paver on top of it. (The gravel will help boost the effectiveness of the filtration to keep debris out.)

Take the sump pump and carefully submerge it into the water. Once you have placed it on the paver, make sure that it is firmly in place.
Locate the check valve on top of the pump and attach the drainage PVC to it. Run the PVC up and out of the pit then use an elbow to point the pipe to the wall.

Use a power drill to cut a hole wide enough for the drainage pipe to pass through and out to a clear above ground area where the water will not have the chance to leak back underground to the basement.

Once the pipe is in place, use the sealant caulk to close off the hole.

Mix the cement and pour it into the space between the basin and the hole in the floor.

Finally, plug in the sump pump and turn it on. Test it to make sure it works properly and drains all the gathering water.
For best results, a perimeter French drain should be laid into the floor around the inside wall of the basement. This drain network should lead to the sump pit so that water can be directed away from your foundation and into the pit where the sump pump can remove it and pump it into a storm drain.

NOTE: Installing a new sump pump, including drilling through your basement floor and walls, is a HUGE job even for experienced do-it-yourselfers. Consult with an experienced Roto-Rooter plumber before beginning this project on your own.

Sump pumps require regular maintenance to continue to function properly. Also remember, for a sump pump to work best, it should be connected to a perimeter French drain that gathers water from all sides of your foundation and funnels it to the sump pump for removal. If you aren’t sure how to establish this, call Roto-Rooter for help.

WHY MIGHT I NEED TO INSTALL A SUMP PUMP?

If you or someone you know has ever faced a home flood, especially in the basement, you’ve probably also heard of how a sump pump could have help prevented the problem.

A sump pump is a specialized appliance designed to pump water from one location to another. Homeowners are usually most familiar with sump pumps in the context of preventing basement flooding in the event of severe weather, high water tables in low-lying areas, or other reasons. Water will always find a way through even the smallest of cracks, so the key to preventing a flood is to ensure the water level stays below the level of the basement floor.

A sump pump is installed in the lowest point of a home’s basement or crawl space. It works by channeling groundwater into a perimeter drain system that is installed at the base of the home’s foundation. The pipes that make up this drain system are perforated, allowing water to flow in. The sump pump then redirects the water to the nearest storm drain, dry well, or retention pond. Sump pumps are usually triggered by a float switch and only activate when water reaches a predetermined level. By redirecting excess water, sump pumps prevent water from accumulating inside the home.

Most new homes come equipped with a sump pump, but older homes can be retrofitted with a sump pump. Sump pumps can be hard-wired into a home’s electrical system or be plugged into an outlet. Many sump pumps are equipped with a battery backup to ensure that the pump will work when the power is out, such as during a severe storm, when it’s critically important that water is pumped away from the home.

SHOULD I HIRE SOMEONE TO DO MY SUMP PUMP INSTALLATION?

Should you hire someone for a job like this? A question like this is difficult to answer for the masses. It of course hinges on many factors, which will be easier to address than finding a solution that fits everyone. Evaluate where you stand with the following questions and then you can rightly gauge whether you are up for the task or whether hiring a professional for a sump pump installation is a better idea.

IS A SUMP PUMP WHAT I REALLY NEED?

If you’ve only self diagnosed the problem, you may consider exterior factors because problems with water in the basement are usually connected to the drainage around your home. You may need to clear gutters, extend roof runoff to reach at least 4 feet beyond your house and examine and that soil within 3 feet of your house is sloping downward.

DO I HAVE THE TIME AND EXPERIENCE TO GET THE JOB DONE?

Although not impossible, the task of installing a sump pump is hard work. If you have experience with similar sort of tasks, you can probably read a few tutorials online and proceed with confidence. If home improvement projects are new to you, you may want to ask a friend or relative that has had more experience, or, hire a professional. In addition, you will need to establish where your main lines, such as sewer and the main water supply, enter the house. You’ll want to avoid these as you drill into your floor.

DO I HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE RIGHT TOOLS?

In many situations, all that you’ll need is an isolated sump kit with several feet of gravel underneath. In some instances, where your foundation does not sit on a gravel bed or your water problems affect the whole basement, the project is a lot more demanding. If you know your foundation sits on a gravel bed then you will need to rip up the concrete of your basement floor in the area for the sump pump installation. A demolition saw or electric jackhammer are the best tools for this job.

Answering these questions is only the first step. If you’ve determined that you’re capable of the work, move on and get the best tips from the experts who have done such tasks before.