Simple Sump Pump Installation Steps
Simple Sump Pump Installation Steps by Charles Kirkendall
Installing a sump pump is a fairly intensive do-it-yourself project and should only be taken on if you feel capable of such a project. By doing it yourself, you will be saving a lot of money while providing protection for your basement and its contents.
The project will involve the installation of a sump pump basin, optional installation of an interior perimeter drain and then installation of the sump pump and discharge piping.
Sump Pump Installation Tools
You will need the following tools in order to complete the installation of your sump pump system.
1. Sledgehammer or Electric Jack Hammer
2. Post Hole Digger and/or shovel
3. Hack Saw
4. Drill, drill bits and hole saw
5. Wrench
6. Measuring Tape
7. Safety Glasses
Sump Pump Installation Supplies
You will need the following supplies as you install your sump pump system.
1. Pre-Mixed Concrete
2. Gravel or Crushed Stone
3. 1 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe and Connectors
4. PVC Primer and Solvent
5. Check Valve
6. 20 or 30 Gallon Sump Well
7. Sump Pump
8. 3 or 4" Drain Tile if installing curtain drain system
Sump Pump Basin Installation
Installing the sump pump basin or well is the first step in getting your sump pump system up and running. The following steps describe how to install a new sump pump basin for your sump pump:
1. Select the location for the new sump pump basin (preferably the lowest point in the basement.) keep in mind the location of any underground drain lines when selecting the location.
2. Mark out a circle that is 4 to 5 inches larger than the sump pump basin that you will be installing.
3. Remove the concrete from within that circle (either with a sledge hammer or electric jack-hammer.)
4. Dig down through the hole in the concrete until the sump well will sit completely within the hole (you want the lip of the sump pump basin to be just below the basement floor level.)
5. Backfill around the sump pump basin with gravel to within 2 to 3 inches from the top of the sump pump basin liner.
6. Mix up some cement and re-cement the floor area up to the sump pump basin. Since the liner was set lower than the floor the cement will naturally slop down into the sump pump basin creating an effective floor drain.
7. Once the concrete drys, the sump pump basin is ready to accept the installation of your sump pump.
Interior Perimeter Drain Installation
Installing a perimeter curtain drain is optional but will greatly increase the effectiveness of the sump pump system. This is a very messy and labor intensive process that will take some time to complete. So if you decide to install a perimeter drain, complete the following steps at the same time as your are installing the sump pump basin above (must be completed before you backfill around the sump pump basin):
1. Mark the location of any underground drain lines around the perimeter of your basement. You will have to be careful when removing the concrete around these areas.
2. Remove a foot wide section of concrete around the perimeter of the basement using a sledge hammer or electric jack hammer. Be careful not to damage to concrete footer when removing the flooring concrete. Dig the trench out so that it is around 6 to 8 inches deep and slopes slightly toward the sump basin.
3. Lay the drain tile into the newly formed trench so that it forms a loop with both ends ending at the sump basin.
4. Carefully cut holes in the sump pump basin that will allow the perimiter drain lines to drain into the sump basin.
5. Cover the drain tile with gravel and then re-cement the floor over the drain tiles.
Sump Pump Installation
You are almost done with the installation of your new sump pump system. The only things left are for you to install the sump pump and the discharge line. The following steps will guide your through this process:
1. Install the discharge pipe through the wall using the drill and hole saw. Make sure that the pipe will send the water away from the foundation.
2. Connect the check value using the rubber boot to the discharge pipe coming into the house.
3. Connect the sump pump to a section of pipe and place it in the basin. Make sure that the sump pump is centered in the sump pump basin and the float moves freely.
4. Connect the pipe from the sump pump to the bottom of the check valve using the rubber boot.
5. Drill a 3/16" hole in the discharge line 4 to 6 inches above the sump pump. This will prevent airlocks between the sump pump and the check valve.
6. Plug the sump pump directly into a grounded outlet. This outlet should be on a dedicated circuit to prevent other devices from overloading the circuit breaker. If your are using a submersible sump pump, tape the electrical cord to the discharge pipe as it comes out of the basin.
7. Test your new sump pump by filling the sump basin with water from a 5 gallon bucket..
About the Author: Charles Kirkendall writes on various home improvement subjects. For more information on sump pumps, visit http://www.sump-pump.xynfo.com
Return to the sump pump installation tips home page.
Installing a sump pump is a fairly intensive do-it-yourself project and should only be taken on if you feel capable of such a project. By doing it yourself, you will be saving a lot of money while providing protection for your basement and its contents.
The project will involve the installation of a sump pump basin, optional installation of an interior perimeter drain and then installation of the sump pump and discharge piping.
Sump Pump Installation Tools
You will need the following tools in order to complete the installation of your sump pump system.
1. Sledgehammer or Electric Jack Hammer
2. Post Hole Digger and/or shovel
3. Hack Saw
4. Drill, drill bits and hole saw
5. Wrench
6. Measuring Tape
7. Safety Glasses
Sump Pump Installation Supplies
You will need the following supplies as you install your sump pump system.
1. Pre-Mixed Concrete
2. Gravel or Crushed Stone
3. 1 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe and Connectors
4. PVC Primer and Solvent
5. Check Valve
6. 20 or 30 Gallon Sump Well
7. Sump Pump
8. 3 or 4" Drain Tile if installing curtain drain system
Sump Pump Basin Installation
Installing the sump pump basin or well is the first step in getting your sump pump system up and running. The following steps describe how to install a new sump pump basin for your sump pump:
1. Select the location for the new sump pump basin (preferably the lowest point in the basement.) keep in mind the location of any underground drain lines when selecting the location.
2. Mark out a circle that is 4 to 5 inches larger than the sump pump basin that you will be installing.
3. Remove the concrete from within that circle (either with a sledge hammer or electric jack-hammer.)
4. Dig down through the hole in the concrete until the sump well will sit completely within the hole (you want the lip of the sump pump basin to be just below the basement floor level.)
5. Backfill around the sump pump basin with gravel to within 2 to 3 inches from the top of the sump pump basin liner.
6. Mix up some cement and re-cement the floor area up to the sump pump basin. Since the liner was set lower than the floor the cement will naturally slop down into the sump pump basin creating an effective floor drain.
7. Once the concrete drys, the sump pump basin is ready to accept the installation of your sump pump.
Interior Perimeter Drain Installation
Installing a perimeter curtain drain is optional but will greatly increase the effectiveness of the sump pump system. This is a very messy and labor intensive process that will take some time to complete. So if you decide to install a perimeter drain, complete the following steps at the same time as your are installing the sump pump basin above (must be completed before you backfill around the sump pump basin):
1. Mark the location of any underground drain lines around the perimeter of your basement. You will have to be careful when removing the concrete around these areas.
2. Remove a foot wide section of concrete around the perimeter of the basement using a sledge hammer or electric jack hammer. Be careful not to damage to concrete footer when removing the flooring concrete. Dig the trench out so that it is around 6 to 8 inches deep and slopes slightly toward the sump basin.
3. Lay the drain tile into the newly formed trench so that it forms a loop with both ends ending at the sump basin.
4. Carefully cut holes in the sump pump basin that will allow the perimiter drain lines to drain into the sump basin.
5. Cover the drain tile with gravel and then re-cement the floor over the drain tiles.
Sump Pump Installation
You are almost done with the installation of your new sump pump system. The only things left are for you to install the sump pump and the discharge line. The following steps will guide your through this process:
1. Install the discharge pipe through the wall using the drill and hole saw. Make sure that the pipe will send the water away from the foundation.
2. Connect the check value using the rubber boot to the discharge pipe coming into the house.
3. Connect the sump pump to a section of pipe and place it in the basin. Make sure that the sump pump is centered in the sump pump basin and the float moves freely.
4. Connect the pipe from the sump pump to the bottom of the check valve using the rubber boot.
5. Drill a 3/16" hole in the discharge line 4 to 6 inches above the sump pump. This will prevent airlocks between the sump pump and the check valve.
6. Plug the sump pump directly into a grounded outlet. This outlet should be on a dedicated circuit to prevent other devices from overloading the circuit breaker. If your are using a submersible sump pump, tape the electrical cord to the discharge pipe as it comes out of the basin.
7. Test your new sump pump by filling the sump basin with water from a 5 gallon bucket..
About the Author: Charles Kirkendall writes on various home improvement subjects. For more information on sump pumps, visit http://www.sump-pump.xynfo.com
Return to the sump pump installation tips home page.
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