How To Repair A Corrugated Sump Pump Hose

Originally posted two/27/20; updated 3/2/22

The purpose of a sump pump, of class, is to expel any rainwater that seeps into your domicile. You may recall that water intrusion is less of an issue during the winter months, but that's non true in the Midwest. In add-on to rain, you too have to bargain with melted snow and ice.

Nosotros often experience a wheel of freeze, thaw, and re-freeze in this region. And these temperature fluctuations can cause h2o lines to freeze and dorsum up. You're probably already familiar with the concept of letting a faucet drip to keep your water pipes from freezing. Only how do you avoid ice forming in a drainage line exterior?

Acculevel is a family unit-owned and operated visitor that specializes in foundation repairs and waterproofing since 1996. We've helped more than 35,000 homeowners restore wellness and stability to their homes, and nosotros accept installed tens of thousands of water drainage systems.

In this web log, we're going to review the all-time practices of installing and maintaining a discharge line to help you lot preclude a common winter outcome: a frozen drainage line.

What Happens if the Discharge Pipe Freezes?

When you install a sump pump, you as well run a discharge line from the pump to the outside. This line is what drains the water away from your home. If the drainage line freezes, the ice in it volition block h2o from draining.

Once the cease of the drainage pipage is clogged or blocked with ice, the drained h2o from the sump pit gets backed up. Instead of draining water a safe distance from your home, the excess snowmelt and rain water collects inside your home and around your foundation.

Without the ability to properly expel the water, your sump pump will exist running continuously, but failing to pump water out. Eventually, the pump will exist overwhelmed and burn out, the infinite will overflowing, and you detect yourself in the verbal situation you were trying to prevent.

How to Install a Sump Pump Discharge Line

Three Steps To Follow To Prevent Freezing

Use a sturdy PVC pipe. Y'all will need to make sure the drainage line is costless of dips and curves (no high or low points), as these tin interfere with the natural flow of discharge. It's this natural catamenia that allows the pipe to completely drain, even after the pump turns off.

Low points will create 'pockets' that can agree h2o and allow it to freeze. In our experience, the best style to preclude this is to use a 2 inch diameter pipe. Most sump pumps only require a one ½ inch pipe, but a larger pipe is more than rigid and less likely to shrink or allow any dips to form.

Verify the grading slopes gradually across the holding. The ground around your home should have a gentle downward slope away from your home. This is the easiest and most natural way to direct h2o flow in the right direction. This is important for two reasons.

Showtime, because a good gradient helps the water drain completely out of the line.
2nd, the slope will encourage the water to go on draining away after it leaves the pipe.

You lot don't want the water freezing inside the line, nor do you want it freezing but outside the line. Either instance volition block the drainage from leaving your home.

pop up drain

A typical pop-up drain

Install a pop up drain in the grand. At the end of your drainage line, attach a pop upwardly bleed. At Acculevel, nosotros also drill iii ½ inch holes in the bottom of the pop-upward piping as part of our installation process. We then gear up the popular up bleed into a small pit filled with five gallons of pea gravel.

These extra holes help drain any water that might collect at the bottom, and having the water release into gravel helps disperse information technology more gradually. All of this makes the water less likely to form puddles or (in warmer weather) launder out your soil.

Things to Avoid When Installing a Sump Pump Discharge Line

Sometimes, the actions you avert taking are as useful every bit the ones you do!

We Do Non Recommend Freeze Guards

Some contractors will install a freeze guard on the side of your house where the discharge line is routed. This is not something nosotros practise, nor do we propose you to practice information technology. Freeze guards are overflow devices that attach to the drainage line equally information technology exits the basement . It'due south true that these allow water to escape if your drainage line freezes; but if this happens, the h2o will be released directly next to the foundation .

The entire purpose of the drainage line is to movement the water away from your home, because otherwise, it will pool effectually your home and seep back into your basement or crawl space. This cycle will keep the sump pump running continuously, processing the same water over and over without the ability to properly discharge the water at a safe distance. Eventually, the pump will be overwhelmed and burn out, the space will alluvion, and… and this sounds… oddly familiar… probably considering this is what nosotros're trying to prevent!

The Drainage Line Should Non Be About Your Firm

We recommend that a drainage line be at least twenty feet from your foundation ; 10 anxiety is the absolute minimum. In full general terms, the further away the better- but like in well-nigh things, moderation is key. If your drainage line is 100 feet or longer, it volition require the sump pump to work harder and shorten the life of the pump motor.

Misconception: A Sump Pump Discharge Line Needs to be Buried Deep

Many homeowners mistakenly call back that the drainage line needs to be buried several feet downward, beneath the frost line. This confusion is understandable; after all, nosotros used the concept of 'permit the faucet baste' at the beginning of this article every bit an example of good preventative measures.

But in that location's a key difference between the water pipes running inside your home (used for drinking water) and a drainage line outside your home. The water lines inside your home need to be buried deeper underground because they hold water all the fourth dimension. They have to, because when you plow on the tap, you expect water to catamenia immediately.

On the other manus, a properly installed discharge line only has water in it while the sump pump is running. When the pump expels the water from your home, information technology's at a warmer temperature than the soil outside, and information technology'due south moving quickly. This, combined with a skilful slope and well-installed drainage line, should be plenty to proceed information technology from freezing before it's cleared the drainage area.

Acquire More Nearly H2o Drainage For Your Domicile

Exercise you accept more than questions virtually the components of waterproofing, drainage, or sump pumps? We have more to share on our blog, where we cover the other details of waterproofing basements and clamber spaces .

Do you retrieve water is causing bug in your basement or clamber infinite? Maybe you're not sure what the problem is, just you've noticed some bug around your house. If so, use our free tool for homeowners that walks you through different symptoms and possible solutions.

link to symptom checker

If you demand professional person advice, detect an experienced local foundation company and make an date. Earlier you sign a contract for any service, you should always verify the company is reputable, insured, and accredited by the Ameliorate Business concern Bureau .

If y'all live in Indiana or the surrounding states , contact Acculevel! We volition schedule an estimate for you with ane of our experienced project managers. They will evaluate your dwelling and recommend the all-time class of action for you lot, to go on your home stiff and healthy for years to come.