Sump Pump?
- Thread starter JACKO
- Start date
4Gas$
Club Member
I've never had one of these sump drain lines freeze.
(and they were only 12" to 18" deep, some above ground).
The water is "moving", the pipe is not "sealed", the
water is warmer than outside water as it flows & the
larger the pipe, the less chance of it (completely)
freezing as well.
Remember, your well & septic systems have parts that
are very shallow & they don't freeze either.
avbcon12
Club Member
there are actually laws about where and how you can drain your sumps.
I go through this regularly when building homes, I also went through this when my parents neighbor flooded my parents yard severely.
In west bloomfield for instance, the sumps must not be draining any closer than 15 feet from the lot line, they cannot be tied to any sewer system and must use a natural (gravity) style open drain system. So check with local laws first before doing anything.
the house you bought likely had it routed to the sewer and to sell the house (inspections etc) they re-routed the sump to outside again, hence your neighbor never having a problem before.
of course, in the summer this shoudlnt be an issue since the sun/ dry weather will dry up any water quite quickly. But now and in the fall are the times that really suck.
with my parents house, they were the first house on the block so everyone built up around them. The sump runs every 10-15 minutes during this time of year and drains more than 30 gallons each time (ie really heavy use). I have a 2" pvc line leading outside that open air dumps into a 4" drain stack which is burried only 1ft below grade to a ditch/storm drain. because the sump runs so often it never freezes in the winter.
PM me pics and i'll help in any way.
I go through this regularly when building homes, I also went through this when my parents neighbor flooded my parents yard severely.
In west bloomfield for instance, the sumps must not be draining any closer than 15 feet from the lot line, they cannot be tied to any sewer system and must use a natural (gravity) style open drain system. So check with local laws first before doing anything.
the house you bought likely had it routed to the sewer and to sell the house (inspections etc) they re-routed the sump to outside again, hence your neighbor never having a problem before.
of course, in the summer this shoudlnt be an issue since the sun/ dry weather will dry up any water quite quickly. But now and in the fall are the times that really suck.
with my parents house, they were the first house on the block so everyone built up around them. The sump runs every 10-15 minutes during this time of year and drains more than 30 gallons each time (ie really heavy use). I have a 2" pvc line leading outside that open air dumps into a 4" drain stack which is burried only 1ft below grade to a ditch/storm drain. because the sump runs so often it never freezes in the winter.
PM me pics and i'll help in any way.
Hugger Z
Official Motown Events Director
Sounds like your neighbor is just complaining to the new guy because the old owner probably told them to go pound sand.
My sump pump used to drain directly into my backyard causing a muddy mess when the dogs ran out there. It was terrible. I actually re-ran my lines that spring (below the frostline) and into a pea gravel pit we made in the backyard. Basically a french drain under the yard. Never had an issue with it since. Yard stays dry and dogs stay clean. And I know it won't freeze. For some reason the original routing came up above the foundation, out of the house, and back down below the frostline. We just drilled through the wall and ran it below the frostline when we re-ran it.
My sump pump used to drain directly into my backyard causing a muddy mess when the dogs ran out there. It was terrible. I actually re-ran my lines that spring (below the frostline) and into a pea gravel pit we made in the backyard. Basically a french drain under the yard. Never had an issue with it since. Yard stays dry and dogs stay clean. And I know it won't freeze. For some reason the original routing came up above the foundation, out of the house, and back down below the frostline. We just drilled through the wall and ran it below the frostline when we re-ran it.
Knexo
Forum Member
A couple years ago my neighbors sump was flooding the side of my yard also. It was the first time ever in the 5 years we had been there. My neighbors sump drain ouside going to the street sewer system had plugged. He has a couple big trees on his lot and the drain pipe filled. You might want to talk to him and find out if this is the first time it has happened. If it is, take a hose and try to fill your sump drain pipe. If you get water backing up in it with the hose flowing at a medium rate, you have a plugged drain. It's a quick and easy solution before you start trying to move drains and other expensive solutions.
Good luck,
Lenny
Good luck,
Lenny
JACKO
Club Member
well the guy says its the first time it has been like this, but I honestly think he is lieing.....the drain pipe that is on the outside of the house is not plugged cause I can see the water flowing out of it when the pump turns on....
JACKO
camaromann
Forum Member
pretty positive frost line is only 48 inches.
Boomer!
Club Member
I am dealing with this in Madison Hghts right now on a job. Because the city has no storm systems for us to tie into the allow a waiver to tie into the city sewer. Most cities do not allow a direct connection to the sewer. If you want me to come look at it I would be happy to. We deal with this garbage all the time.
that's a unique setup for dumping out your sump. I would sure expect it to dump out further from the house (more towards your neighbors if anything).
I say F him. My parents neighbors is doing the same but 20x worse. Their's is dumping underneath my parents drive, down a hill. Washing away all the dirt underneath their drive. It already resulted in a 20k driveway repair, and is soon on it's way to another.
I say F him. My parents neighbors is doing the same but 20x worse. Their's is dumping underneath my parents drive, down a hill. Washing away all the dirt underneath their drive. It already resulted in a 20k driveway repair, and is soon on it's way to another.
FBODGRL
Club Member
:roll:
:roll:
Sounds like your neighbor is going to be an asshole to deal with it. Sucks to be living next to an idiot! Have Boomer take a look at it or see if you can do a quick fix. I predict the guy will bitch about something else. We have people calling the police because some blew grass shavings on their driveway while cutting the grass!
Detroit Gearbox
Forum Member
Jacko...Did I see those photos right?...is the sump pump pumping water out right next to the house????? That would be totally wrong.
The purpose of a sump pump is to remove the water around/under your home. If your dumping it right back out next to you house it will never dry out, and could cause damage to your foundation.
You would need to dig a trench to the ditch out front and pipe that sump pump water and the water from that gutter to the ditch out front-or wherever the storm drains are.
I'm surprised that pipe has not frozen over.
The purpose of a sump pump is to remove the water around/under your home. If your dumping it right back out next to you house it will never dry out, and could cause damage to your foundation.
You would need to dig a trench to the ditch out front and pipe that sump pump water and the water from that gutter to the ditch out front-or wherever the storm drains are.
I'm surprised that pipe has not frozen over.
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Wizeguy
Club Member
Thats exactly what I was thinking....That water needs to be pumped a minimum 6 feet away from the house...
JACKO
Club Member
well guys there lies the problem, I cant go 6ft. out cause that is his driveway..I really dont know why they didnt put the sump on the other side of the house, there isnt any neighbors over there, its a wooded area...but I didnt build the house...lol....right now i put a hose on the pipe and is going to the bottom of my driveway...thats all I can do for now, till someone comes out to look at it...
also the guy gave me the hose,lmao, I really wanted to "talk" to him but he had is little girl with him so I was a nice guy...lol
JACKO
also the guy gave me the hose,lmao, I really wanted to "talk" to him but he had is little girl with him so I was a nice guy...lol
JACKO
Detroit Gearbox
Forum Member
Is the property in the "wooded area" lower than your property? If so, I would pipe it out the other side. You will need to bury it as it exits the house, and use a larger diameter pipe once its outside (larger dia does not freese up as easily.) It really needs to go to the street, along with all your gutters if possible.
Start asking your freinds to see who has a trencher and transet.
seXysiXer
Club Member
yep otherwise its going back down and through the sump yet again. I had to re route mine going into my septic tank. It used to run constantly before I did this and found out the pipe is broken at the house the shoots it out to the ditch therefore making my sump run constantly and the water never went anywhere acually except in a circle lol.
dude I would tell your neighbor to mind his own business. my neighbor has her laundry draining out to the ditch and it gags me just walking to my mailbox which is by her ditch. all these house have the washer drains in the basement going into the sump pump and hers goes out to the ditch still. seems like there would be laws against this as the bleach and soaps wuold kill wildlife or domestic animals getting a drink from the ditch? idk?
make sure its draining away from your foundation. Is there anyway you can elbow it 18 inches out then have that go into a bigger black preforated pipe and bury it out to almost the street. thats how I rigged my downspouts you dont have to go down real far but do make sure your pplastic perforated pipe is laying in the ground the right way lol
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joestang
Club Member
Guys, correct me if I am wrong, but shouldnt ALL sump pumps in a residential area be routed to the storm drains?
My house here in Macomb Twp has a pipe leading to just outside my house, but I have only once seen the water come out of there. I assume this was because the storm drains were at capacity and the water had nowhere to go but out the side of the house.
Now, I do have a storm drain in my backyard corner (actually all 4 yards in that corner have a storm drain cover), so maybe that is why mine is routed differently?
My house here in Macomb Twp has a pipe leading to just outside my house, but I have only once seen the water come out of there. I assume this was because the storm drains were at capacity and the water had nowhere to go but out the side of the house.
Now, I do have a storm drain in my backyard corner (actually all 4 yards in that corner have a storm drain cover), so maybe that is why mine is routed differently?
JACKO
Club Member
I'm not really sure if it is or not, if I go to the woods and then down then yes, but that is a lot of pipe, and how the hell would i get there, I would have to go out to the front of the house and then over, were are probably talking at least 100 ft, from start to finish....this pic will show you where my storm drains are, red arrow with a "L" is going to the lake...
JACKO
