Sump pumps aren’t something that many people spend a lot of time thinking about, but the fact of the matter is they’re usually one of the most important appliances in the entire house.
When water seeps into a home’s basement and foundation, which is a common occurrence for many homes during heavy rains or snowmelt, a sump pump is what gets the water back outside for it can cause rot and other catastrophic damage to the house.
If you’re experiencing flooding or leaking water in your basement, a sump pump may be a necessary way to eliminate the problem. If you’re experienced with DIY home improvements, you can do this on your own without having to hire a contractor.
First, a couple of notes:
- If you’re having problems with water in your basement, the problem might be one of outdoor drainage, not a lack of a pump. Make sure you’re the landscaping around your home’s foundation slopes away from the house, and that gutters/downspouts are in good working order. If gutters aren’t cleared or leak, the water could end up in the foundation. Cleaning out gutter debris is a much easier way to deal with water in the basement than installing a sump!
- Installing a DIY sump pump isn’t the most difficult job in the world, but it’s not something that just anyone can do. If you aren’t experienced with home improvements or handy work of this nature, it’s probably better to leave this to a professional. You don’t want to damage your home’s foundation just because you were trying to save a bit of money in the short term. If at any point in the process you start having doubts or feel you may be in over your head, stop immediately and call a professional contractor.
Installing Your Own DIY Sump Pump
Tools and Equipment Required
Before you get started, you should make sure that you have the following tools and supplies on-hand:
- Measuring tape
- Tools to dig a sump pit (varies depending on your basement floor)
- Gravel
- An electric sump pump kit
- Sump pump float switch
- PVC piping (enough to route water sufficiently away from home)
- Pipe fittings & wrench
- Concrete & trowel
- Hole saw
- Silicone Sealant
Step One – Find the Best Location for the Pit
There will be four main criteria you need to consider when figuring out where in your basement to install your sump pump:
- It needs to be in an area where water collects
- It needs to be near an outlet (to power the pump)
- It needs to be near the wall, to help facilitate external water discharge (Note: be careful not to hit any foundation footings when digging. This could cause serious damage)
- It should not be anywhere near water or sewer lines. You can check with local building codes if you aren’t sure where these are.
Step Two – Digging the Sump Pit
Once you’ve established the best location for your sump pump, it’s time to dig the sump pit. The size of the pit will be determined by how big your liner is. The hole should be about 6 inches deeper and 10 or so inches wider than your sump liner.
If your basement has a dirt or gravel floor, a simple shovel should do the trick for digging. If you’ve got a concrete floor, however, you may need an electric jackhammer (do not use a gas-powered jackhammer without proper ventilation), or a sledgehammer and a masonry chisel. This can be tough and might be one of the instances where getting a pro is best practice.
Step Three – Place the Liner
Fill the bottom of your new pit with coarse gravel so that the top of your sump liner is level with the floor. Place the liner in the pit on top of the gravel, and fill the space with gravel as well, up to about 5 or six inches below the floor. Next, mix concrete and fell the remaining space around the sump liner.
Step Four – Place the Pump
Wait for the concrete to dry, and then place your electric sump pump into the pit. Properly secure the first portion of the PVC pipe to the pump discharge according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, place the liner top on with the pipe and electrical cable outside.
Step 5 – Run the Discharge Piping Outside
Assemble the PVC piping so that it takes the shortest direct route outside, through your home’s rim joist. Make a hole with a hole saw going from the outside in. Run the discharge pipe outside, and close with a silicone sealant. From there, you can use a flexible tube if you like to take water sufficiently far away from the house. (Remember that your landscaping should go downhill away from the house.)
Step 6 – Plug-In and Test the Pump
Once everything is rigged up, you can plug your pump in and test it. You can do this by filling a bucket with water and pouring it into the sump pit. If the pump is working properly, the float switch will activate it and it will pump the water out.
If it works, congratulations! If not, the float switch may need to be replaced, the outlet may not be working, or there may be an issue with the motor. After testing the float and the outlet, if the pump is still not working check with the manufacturer.
Conclusion
While this is a basic guide to the process of installing a DIY sump pump, it is not intended to be comprehensive, and every job will differ depending on the specifics of your home’s location and construction. Check with your local home improvement store if you have any questions, and hire a contractor if you aren’t certain of your abilities. If you need a sump pump float switch to replace and old one or to build your DIY pump.