how deep should a sump pump discharge line be? How do you bury a sump pump discharge line underground? Here, we will be discussing trenching for a sump pump discharge pipe.
Sump pump installation on a property requires all the expertise you can get to do it right.
If you’re adopting a DIY approach, it’s only proper that you seek the right information which is the obvious reason why you’re reading this article.
Trenching Sump Pump Discharge Pipe
Here, we’ll be discussing trenching for the sump pump discharge pipe.
How this vital pipe is installed will determine the longevity of your home’s moisture control system. It’s then important that the approaches outlined below are carefully followed and implemented.
With the sump pump discharge line properly routed; your sump pump should function efficiently.
What’s the Ideal Depth of a Sump Pump Discharge Line?
As part of efforts to install a sump pump discharge line, questions like these need to be asked and satisfactory answers got. Trench depth has a lot to do with how efficient a sump pump discharge line works.
Before you begin, it’s necessary to first identify the frost line around the area.
When identified, the trench should be dug in such a way as to allow the discharge line to rest below or at the frost line. In some situations, plumbers have recommended discharge line trenching for sump pumps to go as deep as three times the depth of the frost line.
Here, it’s clear that if you must go below the frost line, then it must be three times the depth. So, will this be acceptable to everyone? Not everyone wants such trench depth on their property during installation.
There are alternative solutions that can be brought up and used by your plumbing service.
Trenching Guide For Sump Pump Discharge Line Underground
Whenever a sump pump discharge line is to be installed, a decision is made about how the trenching process will unfold. As stated earlier, it begins with identifying the frost line from where further trenching will happen.
A trench measuring 2-feet wide will need to be dug.
We’ve also stated that the trench’s depth should be around 3 feet below the frost line. A slope (outward) must be created from the onset of the trench.
To serve as guidance, you may need to have strings attached to pegs on both sides of the trench and have them leveled out.
Now, an inch of slop should be made for every 8 feet length being dug along the rope. It’s important to maintain consistency during the trenching process.
This can be done by ensuring the distance between the trench surface and string is constant.
At this point, you’re ready to have your sump pump discharge pipe installed. Have the sump pump machine connected to the discharge pipe and proceed to have the added flexible line connected with the original discharge line.
Now, have the dug area covered and leveled.
Guiding Principles For Discharge Pipe Trenching
When trenching for sump pump discharge pipes, certain guidelines are needed for success. This helps prevent issues from developing.
The guiding principles you must keep sight of include; the shorter the better, the bigger the better, and the deeper the better.
What do these principles mean? They have to do with the prevention of freezing in sump pump discharge pipes.
Let’s briefly discuss each of these tips for better comprehension.
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The Shorter, the Better
To guard against freezing, water traveling through a discharge pipe is less likely to be frozen than one that travels through a long pipe.
In other words, frozen pipes tend to be more common with longer pipes. So, when trenching for sump pump discharge pipes, it should be done in such a way that pipes are shorter.
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The Bigger, the Better
What’s the size of your sump pump discharge pipe? Does this matter? Yes, it does!
Size plays a role in how fast freezing points are reached. Bigger pipes are among the ways to ensure that incidences of frozen pipes are reduced or brought to a minimum.
There’s a faster flow of liquid through the pipes as opposed to narrower and longer pipes which are likely to be frozen over with water still flowing through.
In a nutshell, there’s a faster discharge of water when discharge pipes are bigger. This generally improves the performance of your water discharge system.
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The Deeper, the Better
Before now, we made mention of identifying frost lines. This advice was made for a reason. The shallower your trenching is, the more likely contents of the sump pump discharge pipe will get frozen.
However, as trenching goes deeper and below the frost line, it becomes increasingly unlikely that water in discharge pipes will get frozen.
The combination of all three tips or guiding principles helps a lot with the trenching process. Plus, your water disposal system becomes less problematic.
Not everyone will find this Easy
In seeking to trench for sump pump discharge pipe, not everyone will be cut out for this job. In other words, this might be considered a bit overwhelming for some homeowners to perform as a DIY project.
If this reflects your situation, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
You can find a more professional solution to your needs by calling for professional installation. Plumbing services or technicians are always available to offer their expertise.
Here, you only need to make your request by explaining what your needs are.
The process begins and ends within a short period. Barring any hitches, this installation work is likely to be completed within the same day.
You can have your sump pump system working seamlessly as soon as work is completed.
Length of a Sump Pump Discharge Pipe
One of the vital considerations that must be made during trenching is the length of a sump pump discharge pipe. The length has a lot to do with how far the trench will go.
So, how long should a sump pump discharge pipe be? It can be any length depending on important factors like drain capacity and size.
There’s also the slope factor that comes into play when determining length. Here, the slope between the discharge areas leading to where the pipe begins is taken into consideration.
This is as far as we’ll go on trenching for the sump pump discharge pipe. With the different aspects shown here, you’re able to do a good job of installation of vital components of your sump pump.