How it works
Drains in the wet area (a French drain, catch basins or both) carry water to a sump basin buried at the lowest point. When the water rises, a float switch turns on a pump, which pushes the water through a solid discharge line to a spot where it can drain.
Step by step
- Find the low point and the discharge. The basin goes at the lowest spot. The discharge goes somewhere legal and safe: a lower area, or the curb or storm system where your city allows it.
- Put in the collection drains. Run French drains or catch basin lines downhill to where the basin will go.
- Set the basin. Dig the hole, set the basin level on a few inches of stone, and connect the drain lines.
- Install the pump. Set the pump in the basin, add the check valve, and run solid discharge pipe to the outlet.
- Power and alarm. Have an electrician provide a dedicated, GFCI-protected outdoor outlet. Add a high-water alarm so you know if the pump ever stops.
- Test it. Fill the basin with a hose. The pump should start, empty it and shut off.
Keep it running
Test the pump every few months by filling the basin. Clean leaves and silt out of the basin once a year. In cold climates, make sure the discharge line drains empty so it can’t freeze.