The Dos And Don'ts Of Installing Sump Pump
Do you have a wet basement problem? Is water accumulating in your sump basin? If you do not have an adequate basement waterproofing system, you will surely face the problem of consistent flooding in your basement. A sump pump installation would definitely help! Here are the dos and don'ts of installing a sump pump.
Sump Pump installed in the basement, Toronto.
The dos of sump pump installation
- Check the building codes before you start.
- Do make sure that the gutters are unclogged and water can flow easily through them. Drain snaking can help you unclog and free the gutters from leaves and other debris.
- Dig with 3-4-inch gap around the sump liner to make it fit into the pit with ease. If the foundation is leaky, understand the source first.
- Use large rocks or gravel in your pit to prevent dirt, but to allow irrigation into the pit.
- Coarse gravel at the bottom of the pit must be replaced in order to promote good drainage and help water move into the sump.
- Make sure the sump pump is sized to take the water capacity in the pit.
- Always replace the check valves, or have them replaced by an emergency plumber.
- Inspect the bottom of the pit and make sure that it is clean.
- It is best to install a weep hole below the check valve to prevent lockouts.
- Make sure that the pump is unplugged while lowering it into the pit.
- Hardwire the sump pump into a dedicated circuit outlet.
The don'ts of sump pump installation
- Don't let debris collect in the pump. You'll only be promoting an eventual sump pump repair.
- Don't let the size of the pit deceive you. A small pit means that your pump will be short cycling.
- Don't dig a pit close to the foundation wall, or you may hit a footing
- Don't discharge the sump pump drain onto the streets or walkways.
- Do not unplug a sump pump to use it for a temporary outlet
- Do not use a coil stock as it may accumulate water and freeze in some climates.
- Don't chip-up concrete floor and then place the sump right below in the dirt; if placed incorrectly, it can get caught up with dirt, small debris and rocks.
- Don't tie the sump pump into a septic system as it can shorten the life of the leach bed and can possibly back up into the house drains.
- Do not dig a pit if the soil is too soft. It might be a result of a leaking drain, which will need emergency drain repair as well as a possible full drain replacement
- Do not install a sump pump in a basement with leaky foundation. This would only necessitate a complete sump pump replacement later on.
- Check the building codes before you start.
- Do make sure that the gutters are unclogged and water can flow easily through them. Drain snaking can help you unclog and free the gutters from leaves and other debris.
- Dig with 3-4-inch gap around the sump liner to make it fit into the pit with ease. If the foundation is leaky, understand the source first.
- Use large rocks or gravel in your pit to prevent dirt, but to allow irrigation into the pit.
- Coarse gravel at the bottom of the pit must be replaced in order to promote good drainage and help water move into the sump.
- Make sure the sump pump is sized to take the water capacity in the pit.
- Always replace the check valves, or have them replaced by an emergency plumber.
- Inspect the bottom of the pit and make sure that it is clean.
- It is best to install a weep hole below the check valve to prevent lockouts.
- Make sure that the pump is unplugged while lowering it into the pit.
- Hardwire the sump pump into a dedicated circuit outlet.
The don'ts of sump pump installation
- Don't let debris collect in the pump. You'll only be promoting an eventual sump pump repair.
- Don't let the size of the pit deceive you. A small pit means that your pump will be short cycling.
- Don't dig a pit close to the foundation wall, or you may hit a footing
- Don't discharge the sump pump drain onto the streets or walkways.
- Do not unplug a sump pump to use it for a temporary outlet
- Do not use a coil stock as it may accumulate water and freeze in some climates.
- Don't chip-up concrete floor and then place the sump right below in the dirt; if placed incorrectly, it can get caught up with dirt, small debris and rocks.
- Don't tie the sump pump into a septic system as it can shorten the life of the leach bed and can possibly back up into the house drains.
- Do not dig a pit if the soil is too soft. It might be a result of a leaking drain, which will need emergency drain repair as well as a possible full drain replacement
- Do not install a sump pump in a basement with leaky foundation. This would only necessitate a complete sump pump replacement later on.
16/08/2019