Sump pump drain installation
#1
01-22-09, 09:50 AM
Sump pump drain installation
Hi there,
I just had a new house built. When the plumber installed the sump pump, he didn't hook up the drain line for it. Right now, the 1 1/2" PVC drain comes straight out of the pit, and just sits there about a foot high.
From my reading, this line should be ran outside, and the sump water just gets pumped out into the yard. Is this right?
I am out in the country, on a septic system.
Should I run this drain line straight up to the basement ceiling, and outside? Is there a problem with running the line to the back of the house, about 30' from the sump location? Once it goes outside, how does the drain line get run? Do I just bring the PVC down to grade level from above the top of the foundation, then put a 90 on it and run it a couple feet from the house?
The pump is a 1/2 HP submersible pump, brand new.
Thanks for your help!!
Jason
I just had a new house built. When the plumber installed the sump pump, he didn't hook up the drain line for it. Right now, the 1 1/2" PVC drain comes straight out of the pit, and just sits there about a foot high.
From my reading, this line should be ran outside, and the sump water just gets pumped out into the yard. Is this right?
I am out in the country, on a septic system.
Should I run this drain line straight up to the basement ceiling, and outside? Is there a problem with running the line to the back of the house, about 30' from the sump location? Once it goes outside, how does the drain line get run? Do I just bring the PVC down to grade level from above the top of the foundation, then put a 90 on it and run it a couple feet from the house?
The pump is a 1/2 HP submersible pump, brand new.
Thanks for your help!!
Jason
#2
01-22-09, 02:49 PM
I think you should get the plumber back to finish the job he started. Typically you would put a check valve on that pipe sticking out of the pit and then continue the piping up to the ceiling. They usually drill a hole in the rim joist and run the pipe outside. Running the pipe across the basement shouldn't be a problem but it may add some more noise when the pump is running as you would have to hang the pipe somehow. Once outside you should try to get the water as far away from your foundation as possible or you might just be recycling the same water over and over. I'm sure it freezes where you are so try and use smooth pipe not that corrugated stuff once you get outside.
#3
01-23-09, 07:41 AM
I agree with the pump guy in everything, including that you should get the plumber to finish what he started.
What good is a sump pump without a proper discharge line?
Usually a contractor installing a sump pump will install the discharge line as well.
I am surprised that your plumber didn't.
Also, since you are in the process of installing it, I'd suggest you take a look at a little at a simple and inexpensive PVC pipe extension called IceGuard. It will keep the water flowing if the discharge line ever freezes keeping it from returning to the sump pit.
Frozen discharge lines cause a lot of basement floods and sump pump failures.
What good is a sump pump without a proper discharge line?
Usually a contractor installing a sump pump will install the discharge line as well.
I am surprised that your plumber didn't.
Also, since you are in the process of installing it, I'd suggest you take a look at a little at a simple and inexpensive PVC pipe extension called IceGuard. It will keep the water flowing if the discharge line ever freezes keeping it from returning to the sump pit.
Frozen discharge lines cause a lot of basement floods and sump pump failures.
#4
01-23-09, 04:54 PM
Thanks for the great information, guys. Much appreciated!!
I would get the plumber to come back to do the work, but the nearest plumber to where I live is about a 45 minute drive away. He was charging me $200/day for travel time. Not really worth paying him that much to come all the way back just to finish what seems to be a small job.
I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. I wouldn't have thought about putting in the check valve - makes sense now that you have pointed it out!
And that IceGuard system seems like the way to go. Thanks for the tip!
I would get the plumber to come back to do the work, but the nearest plumber to where I live is about a 45 minute drive away. He was charging me $200/day for travel time. Not really worth paying him that much to come all the way back just to finish what seems to be a small job.
I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. I wouldn't have thought about putting in the check valve - makes sense now that you have pointed it out!
And that IceGuard system seems like the way to go. Thanks for the tip!
