In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to avoid basement floods by correctly installing a sump pump.
Steps:
1 Set sump basin upside down on basement floor; mark its outline on floor.
2 Use demolition hammer to chop through concrete floor.
3 Dig hole deep enough to set basin flush with floor.
4 Wrap the sump basin with filter fabric.
5 Set the basin in the hole.
6 Add several inches of gravel to basin.
7 Lay stone paver on top of gravel.
8 Set pump on top of paver.
9 Connect check valve and PVC pipe to pump; run pipe up a nearby wall.
10 Drill hole through house wall with hole saw.
11 Continue PVC pipe through wall and extend to the outdoors.
12 Mix concrete in trough using a hoe.
13 Fill in around the basin top with concrete; smooth the concrete with a pointed trowel.
14 Plug in pump, then test it by filling the basin with water.
See products and services from this episode
houses sump pump
used to mark sump basin outline on floor
to keep silt from clogging sump basin
used to partially fill sump basin
used to create level base for sump pump
forms drain line from pump to outdoors
used to glue together PVC pipe and fittings
used to prevent water from flowing back into pump
used to seal around PVC pipe that exits the house
used to mix concrete
used to encase sump basin