Proper Sump Pump Installation to Prevent Flooding

Do you experience frequent flooding in the basement of your property? Is your plumbing in good condition and approved by a certified Roto-Rooter technician? If you answered yes to both of these questions, frequent basement flooding may be less of a problem with the actual house and more about the location of it. The installation of a sump pump could be the answer to your problems.

In the soil around your home, the amount of groundwater present can increase especially during periods of heavy rain or snow. When the water level rises and the soil becomes over-saturated, water can seep into your basement through cracks in the foundation. A sump pump helps prevent basement flooding by pulling the water out of your basement and redirecting it to a storm drain or other outlet away from the home’s foundation.

Follow this guide from Roto-Rooter’s expert plumbers to install a new sump pump.

What You Need:

• Demolition hammer
• Ten- to fifteen-gallon sump basin
• Filtration material
• Gravel
• Stone paver
• Sump pump
• PVC piping
• PVC glue
• Sealant caulk
• Power drill and hole cutting attachments

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Carefully use the following steps to install a sump pump into your basement:

1. With the help of a certified Roto-Rooter plumber, locate where the water is gathering. This is typically the lowest point in the basement. Use a demolition hammer to break a hole into the floor to expose the pooling water.
2. Take the sump basin and cut a hole into the bottom. This is where the water will enter. Use the filtration material or cloth to wrap the bottom and cover it well.
3. After placing the basin into the hole in the basement floor, fill the bottom with about an inch of gravel. This will help add another layer to the filtration that will keep out unwanted debris, which could potentially hurt the pump. Place the stone paver on top.
4. Place the sump pump carefully under water and position it on top of the paver so that it sits in a stable manner.
5. Locate the check valve on top of the pump where the water shoots out. Connect the drainage PVC to this spot and run the piping up the wall.
6. With a power drill hole cutter attachment, make a hole in the wall big enough for the pipe to exit the building and drain accordingly.
7. Use the sealant caulk to seal up the hole going outside.
8. Mix up the cement with a mixer and fill in the hole surrounding the sump basin so that it is sealed in place.
9. Plug in the sump pump and turn it on.

NOTE: Installing a new sump pump, including drilling through your basement floor and walls, is a HUGE job even for experienced do-it-yourselfers. Consult with an experienced Roto-Rooter plumber before beginning this project on your own.

Sump pumps require regular maintenance to continue to function properly. Also remember, for a sump pump to work best, it should be connected to a perimeter French drain that gathers water from all sides of your foundation and funnels it to the sump pump for removal. If you aren’t sure how to establish this, call Roto-Rooter for help.