Can My Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Be Connected to the Sewer?

While this seems like a logical solution, it is actually illegal to connect the sump pump discharge to your sewer lines. This is because in times of heavy rain, it can overwhelm the sewage system.

How Far From My House Should My Sump Pump Discharge?

This will vary from property to property, but it needs to discharge far enough away that it won’t come right back into the system.

How Far Underground Should a Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Be?

Ideally, you should place a discharge beneath the frost line. This could vary by location. In most cases, the discharge pipe will be a minimum of 5 feet underground, but this may not always be feasible.

How Can I Locate My Sump Pump Discharge Pipe?

Start at the source. Look at your sump pump, and find the pipe coming out of it. Follow that pipe until you hit the wall it exits from. Outside, look in a similar location to find the pipe and then follow it to the end. In some cases, the pipe is buried underground, so you will need to simply look for where the water is flowing outside.

How Long Can a Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Be?

Any length that is needed to accommodate the discharge and flow of water can be used. The only requirement is that there be a downward slope so the water can continue to flow until it exits the pipe.

Sump Pump Discharge | Drycrete Waterproofing

Your sump pump is the heart of your moisture control system. If it fails, your basement can flood. Many times, it is the only thing standing between you and a flooded basement. It is crucial to understand the components of a sump pump and how they work.

How a Sump Pump Works

The sump pump is typically set up through a basin in your basement that collects water. When that basin reaches a certain level, your sump pump will kick on and start discharging the water so that it doesn’t come into the basement. The pump operates with a battery or electrical power and should only need to run when there is rain, excess moisture in the ground, or other situations are causing water to build up. When it kicks on, it relies on the sump pump discharge pipe to move that water to wherever it needs to be directed. The basic goal is to ensure that your basement doesn’t flood.

The Sump Pump Discharge Pipe

The sump pump discharge pipe is just one major piece of the entire system. This pipe is the tool that directs water out of the collection basin and then drains it in the appropriate location. The discharge pipe is directly attached to the sump pump. Depending on your pump and the design, it may be sticking out slightly above the ground, or it may be fully submerged. This is strategically designed to ensure water can move quickly through it.

How a Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Works

So how exactly does this pipe work? Your sump pump discharge pipe is one of the most vital working pieces of your entire system. If the discharge pipe gets clogged or cannot discharge water, you will have a flooded basement. The pump and basin collect water, but the pipe is the source through which all water is flushed out to drain away from your basement. When the tank reaches that trigger level, the pump kicks on and pushes out water, using the discharge pipe to do so. The discharge pipe also uses a discharge valve to keep any water from coming back in. Once water exits through the discharge pipe and the valve closes, the sump pump’s duties have been completed.

What Happens if a Sump Pump Discharge Pipe Fails?

On a sump pump, it takes the entire machine and pumping system working together to be effective. If one small part fails, it can cause the entire system to fail as well. What does that mean for you? If your sump pump discharge fails, you’re likely going to have a flooded basement, which is the exact opposite of what you want to happen. This pipe is responsible for making sure that water exits the basin when triggered, and that the valve closes or stays closed so that water cannot come back in. It has these two responsibilities. If either one fails, you’ve got a mess on your hands.

These are the most common failures that lead to a problem with underground discharge from your sump pump:

Broken check valve

Leaking check valve
Frozen discharge pipe
Clogged discharge pipe
Ineffective discharge pipe

If the valve isn’t working properly, water can come back into the sump pump, even though it was already discharged. While this may not seem like a big deal, it causes your pump to run continuously. If the sump pump is working overtime, it eventually will cause the pump itself to fail. Then we have the discharge pipe itself. It could become clogged or frozen. It might also have been installed improperly so that it isn’t effectively discharging. When the pipe can’t discharge, you have a slew of other issues that might lead to broken or burst pipes, a sump pump that starts to back up, and flooding in the basement.

If for any reason your discharge pipes or valves are not working properly, be sure to call us so we can help get your sump pump back into working order.

Drycrete Waterproofing: Sump Pump Installation Experts

Drycrete Waterproofing is your Massachusetts and Rhode Island sump pump experts. Our teams have been working with sump pumps and other forms of basement waterproofing for more than 10 years.