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 experience 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

How to Install Your Sump Pump

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.)
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Once the pipe is in place, use the sealant caulk to close off the hole.
8. Mix the cement and pour it into the space between the basin and the hole in the floor.
9. Finally, plug in the sump pump and turn it on. Test it to make sure it works properly and drains all the gathering water.
10. 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.