Installing a Sump Pump Liner

You’ve got drainage issues on your property and wish to install a sump pump liner and pump to address them. You’ve got your pump and sump liner, but aren’t sure exactly how to go about installing them. This article will tell you how to go about creating a sump hole and installing the liner, which is actually just a plastic or metal tub with holes in it which allow the water to flow into the liner tub. The liner can be of either material, but plastic will last much longer and be easier to work with. The process of creating the sump hole and installing the liner is quite simple. Basic step by step instructions follow.

Mark and Dig the Hole

The sump hole should be located in the lowest part of the area you’re wishing to drain. Remember your sump hole should be located near an exterior wall and a power outlet if the sump will be draining a basement. Power should be supplied via a GFCI equipped outlet. You may need to rent or borrow a jackhammer to break through basement concrete.

1. Using the top of the sump pump liner tub as a template, mark the ground for cutting (if necessary) and digging. The hole should be approximately 3to 4 inches larger than the diameter of the sump liner. This allows for space for the pump and the associated pipes and to store priming water between pumping cycles.
2. Dig the hole at least 2 and half feet deep.
3. Line the bottom of the hole with approximately 6 inches of very coarse gravel. This gravel forms a solid base for the pump and will keep the pump from ingesting dirt and debris and keep the pump screen from clogging.
4. Level out the gravel bottom and set the sump pump liner in the hole.
5. Cut and attach discharge pipe before fully setting pump in hole. Pipe should extend to approximately 2 or 3 inches above floor level for now.
6. Back fill the hole with coarse gravel to 8 inches from the top of the liner.
7. Fill in to approximately 4 inches from the top of the liner with dirt.
8. Seal the sump pump liner in with concrete. Trowel the concrete around the sump pump liner lid and level with the rest of the floor. This step will only be necessary if installing in a concrete floored basement. If the floor is dirt or the installation is outside, then it only needs to be sealed in with dirt.
9. If installing the sump pump in a basement, drill a hole in the header to fit the diameter of the discharge pipe. This is usually 1-1/4 inch PVC.
10. Cut a length of PVC pipe approximately 8 inches in length and push through the hole just cut in the header.
11. Route piping from discharge pipe to pipe through header and secure to studs using brackets.
12. Discharge pipe should end at least 6 feet from any foundations.