Sump Pumps (Part 2)

The sump pump installation has begun. Did my usual prep work, researching, asking lots of questions, etc. Went to both Lowes & Home Depot and then went home and reviewed their sump pump models online. I later happened to be at a plumbing supply business doing some work and made some inquiries there. They said they only carried Zoeller brand. So, when I got back home I googled this and found out that this is the brand that most of the pros sell and install. Being a firm believer in quality and that you get what you pay for, I went back to this plumber and purchased a Zoeller. What surprised me was that “ceteris paribus” (“all else being equal”), this didn’t cost much more than the lesser quality brands at the big box stores.

So, now that I had done my research and purchased my sump pump, I proceeded to purchase the other things I needed for the installation. This included the check valve (from the plumber), schedule 40 PVC pipe & fittings (from Lowes), pea gravel & concrete mix (also from Lowes), and a few electrical supplies that I needed to run the dedicated circuit for the pump. Then I went to Home Depot to rent an electrical jack hammer. Having never used one of these, I opted for the 24 hour rental since I didn’t know how long it would take to do the job.

After getting further advice from Home Depot and a couple of contractors I know regarding using jack hammers, I proceeded. First, I marked the 32″x32″ square area on the basement floor. Then I used a cold chisel and small sledge hammer to score this perimeter. The contractors (and the guy at HD) told me that this would minimize cracking of the concrete outside the perimeter. The scoring process probably took about 20 minutes, and I am glad I did it because it really did eliminate unwanted cracking. After the scoring, I proceeded to use the jackhammer. I was very surprised how well it worked. Although it is heavy, you just have to steady and guide it while it does the work. All in all, the jackhammering process took about 20 minutes. (Probably the hardest part of the whole jackhammering process was carrying it down to the basement and then back up to return it).

Now comes the truly hard/laborious part. Excavating the broken concrete and the subsoil down to a depth of 28″ (the depth of my sump pit). What I did here was to utilize my “indentured servant” (IOW, my son). Obviously he gets free room and board, etc., and so with a little further enticement of some “$$”, he has been excavating away. At the rate it is going, I am estimating 4 hours for this part (pretty much in line with what others said it took them for this part).

So…that is where we are at them moment. Next (probably tomorrow) we will lay a gravel base, install the plastic pit container, place gravel all around it, re-concrete the floor around the pit, run the electric circuit, and intall/plumb the sump pump tying it into an underground drain line.

More later…