This is the time of the year when many people discover water seeping up through the cracks in their basement floors. This is a serious problem even if you don’t use the basement because the water will undermine the foundation and the dampness causes dangerous mold build up which can endanger the health of everyone in the home. In all but the most severe cases the installation of a submersible sump pump will cure the problem. The proper installation of sump pump is labor intensive but it’s a project that even a beginner handyperson can do with a little patience and the right tools.
Tools and supplies
· A sump pump basin w/cover
· Filter cloth
· A submersible sump pump
· Check valve
· PVC pipe primer
· PVC pipe cement
· Assorted PVC pipe fittings
· PVC pipe
· PVC ratcheting pipe cutter
· Sandpaper
· Gravel
· Paver
· Cement
· Paintable caulk
· Caulking gun
· Cement mixing trough or wheelbarrow
· Gardening hoe
· Spade
· Electric demolition hammer (Rented from a home center)
· Drill/driver
· Hole saw attachments
· Utility knife
· Cement smoothing trowel
· Felt tip marker
· 4 foot level
How to install
1. Using the level, find out which way the basement floor slopes (floors are rarely level) and move to the lowest end. That’s the wall where you want to place the sump basin. Pick a spot as close as possible to an electrical outlet.
2. Turn the sump basin upside down on the floor and draw around the top with the magic marker. This indicates the area you will break up with the demolition hammer. These demolition hammers weigh about 80-pounds so if you’re a DIY gal you may want to enlist the help of a DIY Guy to help with this part. Make sure you wear safety shoes, ear protection, goggles and a good pair of work gloves when using a demolition hammer because they can do some serious damage to your toes and feet if one gets away from you.
3. Once you have broken up the cement inside your circle, dig a hole deep enough so that the top of the sump basin is even with the floor. If you have a serious water problem you will be working in the blind because the water will rush in to fill the hole as quickly as you scoop the dirt out.
4. Wrap the filter cloth around the basin and then place the basin in the hole. The filtering fabric prevents any dirt or sediment from entering the basin.
5. Pour in several inches of gravel and place the paver stone on top of the gravel making a firm, level area for the pump to set on. The paver stone also keeps any gravel from being sucked up into the pump and jamming the impeller.
6. Fit the check valve to the sump pump with the arrow pointing up and away from the pump. Then using the required PVC fittings and pipe, run the pipe up the wall and out through the side of the house. Cut a hole through the side of the house using the drill/driver and hole saw attachment.
7. Caulk around the pipe with the paintable caulk.
8. Outside the house add PVC pipe as needed to carry the water away from the foundation.
9. Once everything is in place, mix the ready-mix cement in the trough or wheelbarrow using the hoe and then fill in around the top of the basin.
10. Once the cement has hardened check the pump for proper operation.
11. Slip the basin cover in place and the job is complete.
12. Finally, clean all your tools store them in a safe place for future use and return the demolition hammer to the home center.
Resources
Fiberglass sump pump basin liner (and cover) - $25 (Kingston) http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/for/1096479335.html
Ace Hardware for pipe, fittings, cement, pump, etc. http://www.acehardware.com/home/index.jsp?clickid=topnav_logo_img
