Now that the ground is sort of starting to thaw, it is getting to be time to think about other projects...
Our house has a sump pit and pump that only runs for a while during certain times of the year, typically during the spring thaw and sometimes after one of those multi-day "duck drowning" rains. The pit is totally dry 10 months out of the year, however when it does run, the 1/2hp pump runs about a 15 second cycle every minute or two.
The problem we have is that some time before we got the home, (we think when it was built) the pump was tied into the house sewer which feeds into the municipal sewer system. We have recently become aware that this is not proper, and would like to fix it, preferably before we get caught... Our town has recently announced that it is going to be cracking down on sump pump tie-ins, and has purchased a bunch of new detection equipment.
As we are concerned about drawing gov't attention to the basic problem, I can't really ask advice of our local AHJ's or other local sources for advice, however I would like to do something that is reasonably code compliant and all that good stuff. ;-)
We aren't wanting to spend a lot of money on this, and I would prefer to do it myself. The problem is I'm not quite sure what the best way accomplish the goal. I'm assuming I basically just need to run a pipe out the wall away from the house, but I'm not sure of the details, and as usual, the devil is in the details.
While the sump normally never runs in the winter, this is MA, and I would rather the line wasn't subject to freezing, and be buried at least enough not to be a trip hazard other than possibly at the discharge point.
I haven't measured it yet, but I think the ground around the house is mostly flat or slopes only gently away from it. How far do I need to pipe the discharge to ensure that I won't just be 'recirculating' the water? (I think the ground is mostly rock and clay)?
The foundation walls end about three feet above the ground - This makes me think I have two basic options -
1. Dig down and run the pipe through the concrete wall (how deep?) and bury the pipe below the frost line (how deep?) except for where it comes up for the discharge, and how do I protect that?
2. Come through the wall at the sole plate, put a "siphon break" at that point, and run the line just underground, angled so it will drain. (empty pipes can't freeze)
A question in either case is how to terminate the discharge end so that I don't get any critters crawling back up the pipe, or other clogs. I'd also prefer not to make a mosquito breeding pond... Would it work to have a "dry well pit full of crushed stone or the like that the discharge pipe ended in? I don't really care if the pit overflows during heavy pump sessions, but I figure that a gravel bed woud keep any critters out, not be a mosquito breeder, and not be a trip hazard otherwise.
In terms of materials, is 1.5" PVC the right material? If not, what is?
What other sorts of issues do I need to figure out?
I'd appreciate any suggestions, and / or pointers to other materials on how best to do this, especially code references...
Gooserider
Our house has a sump pit and pump that only runs for a while during certain times of the year, typically during the spring thaw and sometimes after one of those multi-day "duck drowning" rains. The pit is totally dry 10 months out of the year, however when it does run, the 1/2hp pump runs about a 15 second cycle every minute or two.
The problem we have is that some time before we got the home, (we think when it was built) the pump was tied into the house sewer which feeds into the municipal sewer system. We have recently become aware that this is not proper, and would like to fix it, preferably before we get caught... Our town has recently announced that it is going to be cracking down on sump pump tie-ins, and has purchased a bunch of new detection equipment.
As we are concerned about drawing gov't attention to the basic problem, I can't really ask advice of our local AHJ's or other local sources for advice, however I would like to do something that is reasonably code compliant and all that good stuff. ;-)
We aren't wanting to spend a lot of money on this, and I would prefer to do it myself. The problem is I'm not quite sure what the best way accomplish the goal. I'm assuming I basically just need to run a pipe out the wall away from the house, but I'm not sure of the details, and as usual, the devil is in the details.
While the sump normally never runs in the winter, this is MA, and I would rather the line wasn't subject to freezing, and be buried at least enough not to be a trip hazard other than possibly at the discharge point.
I haven't measured it yet, but I think the ground around the house is mostly flat or slopes only gently away from it. How far do I need to pipe the discharge to ensure that I won't just be 'recirculating' the water? (I think the ground is mostly rock and clay)?
The foundation walls end about three feet above the ground - This makes me think I have two basic options -
1. Dig down and run the pipe through the concrete wall (how deep?) and bury the pipe below the frost line (how deep?) except for where it comes up for the discharge, and how do I protect that?
2. Come through the wall at the sole plate, put a "siphon break" at that point, and run the line just underground, angled so it will drain. (empty pipes can't freeze)
A question in either case is how to terminate the discharge end so that I don't get any critters crawling back up the pipe, or other clogs. I'd also prefer not to make a mosquito breeding pond... Would it work to have a "dry well pit full of crushed stone or the like that the discharge pipe ended in? I don't really care if the pit overflows during heavy pump sessions, but I figure that a gravel bed woud keep any critters out, not be a mosquito breeder, and not be a trip hazard otherwise.
In terms of materials, is 1.5" PVC the right material? If not, what is?
What other sorts of issues do I need to figure out?
I'd appreciate any suggestions, and / or pointers to other materials on how best to do this, especially code references...
Gooserider