Sump Pump Installation

Basements flood from time to time. Perhaps you’ve experienced it. If you have, you know how much damage water can cause, even if it is just a little water. Homes built in area with a high water table or areas where condensation forms in the foundation can benefit from a few preventative measures. In Nashville, sump pump installation is a great way to take care of this issue before it becomes a real problem.

When many people think of a sump pump, they have the image of a moldy hole in the basement or crawlspace with a bad odor that makes you never want to go down there. This doesn’t have to be the case. The newer sump pumps are fashioned to eliminate these issues. Good quality sump pumps like the ones that Roto-Rooter uses are extremely effective, fairly quiet, and resistant to mold and mildew that can form in wet environments.

Odds are you already have a sump pump installed in your basement. If you don’t, installing one can be challenging, but not impossible. Often times, the most difficult part is drilling the hole through the concrete of the basement to form the well into which the moisture will gather. Once the hole is drilled, it has to be protected by a barrier between the concrete and the water. This barrier consists of a filter fabric that should keep out larger debris and heavier materials which could clog the pump.

The pump should be installed at the lowest point in the foundation so that water will naturally gravitate toward the well. Once you have the hole deep enough to set the basin flush with the basement floor, wrap the sump basin with the filter fabric and set it in the hole, then add gravel to the basin – just a few inches – before laying stone paver on top of the basin to give the pump something to rest on.

Once the pump is in place you are going to need to provide a path for the pump to evacuate the water from inside the house to outside. PVC piping will do the trick. Run the pipe up the nearest external wall and use a hole saw to cut a hole through the wall and outside. The PVC pipe will be run from the pump, up the wall, and out to the exterior of the house. Connect the check valve to the pump and build the various connections with the PVC pipe. Finally, fill the excess hole in the basin top with concrete and cap the well to test the pump.

Some sump pumps today have a ball valve in the plug at the top of the well that allows water from the floor of the basement to run into the pump well and be pumped out. These can often be useful if you have a leak somewhere in your basement. Others have an alarm that will sound if the water level in the well rises to a specific point, allowing you to check on the pump and troubleshoot. Often times, the pump has been unplugged, which can be a real problem if you are unaware of it.

It’s a good idea to test the pump from time to time by pouring in a gallon of water to activate the pump and eliminate potential problems. Here in Nashville, sump pump installation is something in which Roto-Rooter specializes. Should you need help putting in your sump pump, we are always available.