When it comes to installing a sump pump as part of our services for Detroit basement waterproofing, several important steps need to be taken.
Step 1: Create a Sump Pit and Place the Liner
Our team will find the lowest point in your basement floor and then will jackhammer a section of the slab. They'll then proceed to dig out what's known as a sump pit. Next, we'll place a durable, perforated liner into the pit, filling in the remaining space around it with drainage stone. What this does is create a protective barrier around your sump pump against mud and other debris.
Now, your sump pump's pit size is important. If the pit is too small, then your sump pump will pump out the water inside the basin quickly, which turns it on and off constantly. That will burn it out far too quickly. But if the pit is too large, it'll collect too much water and the sump pump will pump out more water than needed to keep your basement dry.
Step 2: Basement Drain System Installation
When you have a sump pump installed in your basement as part of a basement waterproofing in Detroit, MI, it must be installed alongside what's known as a French drain system. What a French drain system does is that it collects water from around your basement's perimeter, directing it to the sump pump before it can reach your basement floor.
What's involved in the process of installing a French drain system is that we'll jackhammer along the perimeter of your basement floor, creating a trench that's then filled in with drainage stones. Care is taken to ensure that the system is pitched down towards your sump pump.
Step 3: Sump Pump System Installation
For your sump pump to function properly, holes for discharge lines need to be dug into the walls—one per sump pump—and the sump pump is then plugged in. We recommend that you have your sump pump on its own dedicated circuit. That way, you don't need to worry that a disabled circuit will take out the entire system.
Your sump pump will rest on what's known as a sump pump stand. This keeps the pump off of the bottom of the pit liner, which is where dirt and debris are likely to collect. Next, an airtight lid is placed on top, and rubber grommets are fitted around the pipes and wires, sealing the system.
Step 4: Clean Up
The process of installing a sump pump is a messy one. We'll make sure that we clean up after ourselves by removing the waste materials.