In older homes, there are no adequate basement waterproofing systems. Therefore, sump pump installation is the best way to ensure that the homes don’t suffer from a wet basement.
If you have been facing consistent issues from your leaky basement, you can identify the causes and sources of your wet basement and decide whether a sump pump installation would help make your basement dry. If you should install a sump pump, this guide will come in handy.
1. Diagnose The Problem.
The best way you can diagnose the problem is inspecting the basement during the rainy season. Note that, it is not apparent that the issues the causes of wet basement is from the basement. Sometimes, it could be as a result of overflow from the gutter that finds its way into your foundation.
So, before you start inspecting your basement and jump into to sump pump installation, start inspecting the obvious culprits such as poorly fitted gutters that are directing water along the basement walls.
So, you would want to ensure that;
The gutters are not clogged. Remove the debris and ensure that water flows well through the gutters.
Ensure that the downspouts direct water far away from the foundation of your home.
Lastly, ensure the landscape slope is sloping away from the foundation of your home.
2. Check Whether There Is Gravel Under Floor.
Most homes, especially older homes have gravel under the foundation floor. To know whether your home has gravel, you can contact your builder if possible. If you cannot reach him, you can approach homeowners with the same design of the home as yours and ask them. It might be hard to know this until you excavate the foundation and find it by yourself. That is why it makes sense to consider the above alternatives before you decide to find it by breaking through the foundation.
3. Tools And Materials Needed.
To carry out a sump pump installation, you will need some materials and tools. The tools that you need are a hammer, drill bits, pipe cutter and electric drill. The materials will encompass fittings, PVC pipe, wire ties, J hooks, silicone sealant, pressurizing fittings, increaser, gravel, check valve, sump pump, corrugated pipe and cement.
4. Identify A Location.
The first thing you need to do in sump pump installation is identifying the location where water accumulates. The area is usually close to the Ground-fault Interrupter Outlet, where the sump pump should be plugged in. If the site doesn’t have a plug, it would be great to call an electrician to install it.
5. Create A Hole To Install A Sump.
The hole should be ten inches in width and six inches in depth compared to the sump. Pour gravel to cover at least three inches of the hole and then put your sump pump into the hole on the gravel.
6. Pour More Gravel
While standing on the sump, add more gravel to fill the surface of the sump and leave two or three inches of the sump pump exposed. At this juncture, you need to prepare the pump to start operating.
7. Attach Adapters.
Attach the male adapter to the PVC outlet pipe, and then connect it to the female adapter found on the pump. Create a hole to the outlet pipe using a ¼ inch drill 6 inches above the sump pump. This is known as a weep hole, which lets water reverse back into the pump when it is switched off.
8. Fix A Check Valve.
Use wire ties to install a pump electrical cord to the outlet pipe and then fix a check valve on the open side of the discharge drain. Put the pump correctly into the sump and then get ready to drive the water away from your home. Ensure that you utilize check vale that is designed for vertical operation for complete sump pump install.
9. Pump Water from the House.
This is done using 11/2 inch PVC to direct water away from the sump pump and the home.
10. Fix The PVC Pipe Through The Wall.
Use the J hooks to hang the pipe through the wall from the joints. If the pipe has to go through a block, use the hammer to smash the block to pave the way.
