| According to recent surveys, over 85% of all | | | | Installation |
| homes with basements will experience some | | | | |
| form of wet basement problems in their | | | | You will need to rent an electric jackhammer |
| lifetime. Installing a sump pump in the | | | | to break a hole in your basement concrete |
| basement can be a great benefit, even if it's | | | | floor. Ask for a shovel bit when you rent the |
| only to keep the water from getting deep or | | | | jackhammer. The shovel bit will make quick |
| to act as a floor drain. | | | | work of digging out the hole in which you |
| | | | will install your sump well. The lip of the |
| What To Buy | | | | well that holds the sump well lid should be |
| | | | installed slightly lower than the basement |
| Sump pumps are generally sold according to | | | | floor surface. This will allow your sump well |
| the horsepower rating of the pump motor. You | | | | and pump to act as a very good floor drain in |
| will see ¼ horsepower, 1/3 horsepower and | | | | case of a broken water pipe, leaky hot water |
| ½ horsepower pumps available. Although the | | | | tank, etc. You will need to buy a bag of sand |
| horsepower of the pump is a good "yardstick" | | | | mix cement to re-cement the floor area around |
| to use in judging which size pump to buy, a | | | | the sump well and the broken concrete. |
| more accurate way is to look at the GPH or, | | | | |
| Gallons Per Hour that the unit is capable of | | | | Most pumps come with a 1 ¼"threaded |
| pumping. For instance, you will find ½ | | | | connection for PVC pipe. Get an adapter that |
| horsepower sump pumps that can pump 3,000 | | | | converts it to 1 ½" schedule 40 pipe. 1 |
| gallons per hour and you will also see other | | | | ½" schedule 40 pipe is more universal and |
| ½ horsepower pumps that are capable of | | | | a lot easier to find fittings for. Next, |
| pumping over 7,500 gallons per hour. As you | | | | you'll want to attach a check valve to your |
| can see, horsepower ratings are not very | | | | piping. The check valve prevents water |
| accurate in judging which size pump to buy. | | | | already pumped up through the plumbing from |
| Generally, I like to buy a larger pump than | | | | draining back down into the sump well when |
| necessary because it will usually last a lot | | | | the pump shuts off. These are easily attached |
| longer because it doesn't have to work so | | | | with a rubber boots and a screw driver. |
| hard. | | | | |
| | | | Make sure to use pipe cleaner before gluing |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | your pipe fittings together. The pipe cleaner |
| | | | actually softens the plastic and allows the |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and | | | | pipe glue to bond better. Check with the |
| professional "full service" Search Engine | | | | instructions on the glue can about how long |
| Marketing help at very affordable rates. | | | | to wait before pumping water through the |
| | | | newly glued connections. |
| Choose a pump with a reliable switch. The | | | | |
| switch is very important because it tells the | | | | Plug your sump pump directly into a grounded |
| pump when to turn on and when to turn off. | | | | electrical outlet. Don't use an extension |
| There are several types of switches available | | | | cord because it will shorten the life of your |
| on pumps. Some of the different types of | | | | pump. The electrical outlet should be on a |
| switches you will find are called; "2 pole | | | | breaker which is the proper size for your |
| switch", "mercury switch" and "diaphragm | | | | pump. Your electrical outlet should also be |
| switch". I only buy pumps that have a 2 pole | | | | on it's own dedicated circuit breaker to |
| switch. They have proven to be the most | | | | prevent other electrical connections from |
| reliable over time. After all, what good is a | | | | overloading your breaker. |
| sump pump if it won't turn on? | | | | |
| | | | Summary |
| Sump Wells | | | | |
| | | | Installation of a sump pump can be a pretty |
| A sump well is the container below floor | | | | easy do-it-yourself project with some great |
| level in which the pump is installed. You | | | | benefits. By doing it yourself, you can save |
| will be able to buy a 20 gallon to 30 gallon | | | | a lot of money and provide some great |
| sump well at you local home improvement | | | | protection for your basement and its |
| store, in the plumbing section. Many people | | | | contents. |
| opt for a smaller 5 gallon bucket; don't do | | | | |
| it! Your pump will burn out very quickly | | | | ARTICLE REPRINT PERMISSION You may |
| because it is turning on and off too much, | | | | reprint the above article in your electronic |
| because it can only pump out small quantities | | | | or print newsletter; however, please include |
| of water each time it runs. | | | | my byline and bio and keep the article |
| | | | intact. I retain all copyrights. |