Sump pump discharge line screen


  #1  
Old 12-05-06, 03:31 PM
K
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Sump pump discharge line screen

I managed to deepen my sump pit and reinstall the pump when the original contractor did a lousy job a few years ago, and today I unclogged my frozen discharge line after my neighbor moved it and left it running uphill, yet I am absolutely clueless about some things that are probably very simple.

I did see another neighbor apply a screen over the end of his discharge line when I believe he discovered a mice problem in his crawl space, and I too had mice down there a few years back. I have been keeping some plastic mesh over the outlet hose, but as a result of this when the pump runs the water shoots out a couple feet in all directions. I believe this is causing more ice on my neighbor's driveway than would be if the screen were not there.

Is this a good, bad, or necessary precaution? Are there any known problems with animals going through or making homes in sump pump discharge lines, particularly during dry spells when the pump may rarely operate? I have no idea. Thanks.
 
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Old 12-06-06, 03:53 AM
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I suppose it's possible for mice to get into your pipe, but most pumps are pretty strong and would "flush" them out when the pump runs. If you have a check valve in your pipe there is no way they could get into your house through the pipe. Some people don't like using check valves because of a freezing problem but if you have a good downward pitch on the pipe where it leaves the building that shouldn't be a problem. During those dry periods it's not a bad idea to run the pump once an awhile to keep things free.

Steve
 
  #3  
Old 12-06-06, 08:35 AM
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Unless you pit dries out completly and you don't have a check valve I don't see mice comeing in through the pipe. I don't think they can swim under water to get out of the pipe.
 
 

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