If you’ve ever had water flooding in your yard, or a basement that seems to be perpetually damp, then you know the importance of having a sump pump installed. Recently, I installed my own sump pump and learned a few things along the way that I thought would be useful to share.
Installing a sump pump is not as difficult as it might seem. The most difficult part of this job was probably the digging. To install a sump pump, you need to dig several feet down into the ground and create a basin for the pump to sit in. The size of your basin will depend on how much water needs to be pumped out of your yard or basement. In my case, I used an 8-inch diameter basin that was about two feet deep.
The next step is to drop in the sump pump itself. Most pumps come with a cord that needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet so make sure you get yourself some outdoor-rated extension cords for this task. Once the cord is connected, place rocks or gravel around the base of the pump so it won’t move when it turns on and off while pumping water out of your yard or basement.
Lastly, once everything is set up and ready to go you’ll want to test it out by adding some water into the basin and making sure it pumps properly. While my first attempt didn’t work out quite as planned—I bought an inexpensive plastic sump pump from Amazon that died after just one use—I eventually got something more durable (i.e., cast iron) which has worked perfectly since then!
If you’re thinking about installing a sump pump yourself but feel like you need some help, reach out—we can offer advice and guidance throughout this process!
To sum up, installing a sump pump isn’t as hard as it may seem at first glance – if done correctly it can provide years of service without issue! There’s certainly some technical aspects involved – such as connecting an electrical outlet outdoors and testing its performance – but with a bit of patience and research (or help from us) it’s possible for anyone to successfully install their own sump pump! Good luck!