Installing a Sump Pump The Home Improvement Warrior Way - Sump Pit

If you're a weekend home improvement warrior, you may have considered installing your own sump pump. It saves money and besides you learn something new to help hone your home improvement guru skills. There are a few items you will need to start: sump pump/liner, saw, electric drill, work gloves, protective goggles, jackhammer (can be leased) cement and trowel, PVC pipe, PVC cement/bond, and fittings, a level, and caulking gun with caulk.

Put on the protective goggles and work gloves before installing the sump pump. The first order of business is digging the sump pit if installing a submersible sump pump. Carefully check to see where water/sewer lines and other utility lines are located. Be sure not to split any of these wires when digging to avoid a big mess and having to call the utility company. Use the level to determine the basest level in the basement since that is where the pump should be located. Be certain to place dig the pit close to an outside window preferably near an electrical outlet. Find a good place to allow the pipe leading out of the pump, so it will drain to the outside of the home. Put the liner on the ground where you will be digging the sump pit. Trace around the liner.

Take the jackhammer and begin hammering through the cement in the shape of the outline of the liner. Dig the hole to be about 2 feet below ground level. Use a level to make sure the hole is completely level. Place the liner in the hole and use concrete and trowel to seal it off. Use about 1 1/4" of PVC pipe for the outtake pipe and install into the sump pump. Drill a hole in the rim joist for the pipe. Slice a piece of PVC pipe and place through the hole. About a half foot of pipe needs to run outdoors from the home and 3 to 4 inches needs to be inside the home. Make sure the pipe lengths are correct then cement in place. Caulk around the edges of the discharge pipe and connect a pipe to shoot the water approximately 6 feet from the foundation. A diverter will help aim the water away from the home. The float device needs to be tweaked, plug the pump in, and pour in up to 10 gallons of water to test the pump.

For more information on sump pumps head over to http://www.sumppumphelp.com/ where you can also find out about buying and maintaining sump pumps

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Dorilas