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Sump Pump Installation for Do-It-Yourselfers
by Robert Clarke
http://www.b-drybasementswaterproofingnepennsylvania.com/
According to recent surveys, over 85% of all homes with
basements will experience some form of wet basement
problems in their lifetime. Installing a sump pump in the
basement can be a great benefit, even if it's only to keep
the water from getting deep or to act as a floor drain.
What To Buy
Sump pumps are generally sold according to the horsepower
rating of the pump motor. You will see ~ horsepower, 1/3
horsepower and ~ horsepower pumps available. Although the
horsepower of the pump is a good "yardstick" to use in
judging which size pump to buy, a more accurate way is to
look at the GPH or, Gallons Per Hour that the unit is
capable of pumping. For instance, you will find ~
horsepower sump pumps that can pump 3,000 gallons per hour
and you will also see other ~ horsepower pumps that are
capable of pumping over 7,500 gallons per hour. As you can
see, horsepower ratings are not very accurate in judging
which size pump to buy. Generally, I like to buy a larger
pump than necessary because it will usually last a lot
longer because it doesn't have to work so hard.
Choose a pump with a reliable switch. The switch is very
important because it tells the pump when to turn on and
when to turn off. There are several types of switches
available on pumps. Some of the different types of switches
you will find are called; "2 pole switch", "mercury switch"
and "diaphragm switch". I only buy pumps that have a 2 pole
switch. They have proven to be the most reliable over time.
After all, what good is a sump pump if it won't turn on?
Sump Wells
A sump well is the container below floor level in which the
pump is installed. You will be able to buy a 20 gallon to
30 gallon sump well at you local home improvement store, in
the plumbing section. Many people opt for a smaller 5
gallon bucket; don't do it! Your pump will burn out very
quickly because it is turning on and off too much, because
it can only pump out small quantities of water each time it
runs.
Installation
You will need to rent an electric jackhammer to break a
hole in your basement concrete floor. Ask for a shovel bit
when you rent the jackhammer. The shovel bit will make
quick work of digging out the hole in which you will
install your sump well. The lip of the well that holds the
sump well lid should be installed slightly lower than the
basement floor surface. This will allow your sump well and
pump to act as a very good floor drain in case of a broken
water pipe, leaky hot water tank, etc. You will need to buy
a bag of sand mix cement to re-cement the floor area around
the sump well and the broken concrete.
Most pumps come with a 1 ~"threaded connection for PVC
pipe. Get an adapter that converts it to 1 ~" schedule 40
pipe. 1 ~" schedule 40 pipe is more universal and a lot
easier to find fittings for. Next, you'll want to attach a
check valve to your piping. The check valve prevents water
already pumped up through the plumbing from draining back
down into the sump well when the pump shuts off. These are
easily attached with a rubber boots and a screw driver.
Make sure to use pipe cleaner before gluing your pipe
fittings together. The pipe cleaner actually softens the
plastic and allows the pipe glue to bond better. Check with
the instructions on the glue can about how long to wait
before pumping water through the newly glued connections.
Plug your sump pump directly into a grounded electrical
outlet. Don't use an extension cord because it will shorten
the life of your pump. The electrical outlet should be on a
breaker which is the proper size for your pump. Your
electrical outlet should also be on it's own dedicated
circuit breaker to prevent other electrical connections
from overloading your breaker.
Summary
Installation of a sump pump can be a pretty easy do-it-
yourself project with some great benefits. By doing it
yourself, you can save a lot of money and provide some
great protection for your basement and its contents.
ARTICLE REPRINT PERMISSION
You may reprint the above article in your electronic or
print newsletter; however, please include my byline and bio
and keep the article intact. I retain all copyrights.
About The Author
Robert Clarke owns B-Dry System NEPA, a basement
waterproofing company. Visit http://b-
drybasementswaterproofingnepennsylvania.com/sump-pump-
installation.html for more information. He has also served
as President of the B-Dry Owners Association, a nationally
recognized group of basement waterproofing contractors.
Visit http://www.b-dry.com/ for details.
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