small submersible slurry pump

Sump pumps: What you need to know

Question: Can I pump the water from my sump pump into my plumbing system?

Answer: No, the water from the sump pump should go directly outside. Municipalities do not allow clear water to go to the plumbing system, just your gray water and sewage.

Some homes have sump pumps and some do not. There are different uses for sump pumps. A clear water sump pump removes the ground water that collects around the house. There is a drain tile system that diverts the water into a sump pit and then it gets pumped outside. Always make sure you have an extension pipe on the outside discharge pipe so it’s not being pumped right next to the foundation. A sanitary sewage ejector system is used to remove the gray water and sewage into your septic system. Everything from the basement level is collected into a sealed pit and then pumped into your septic system.

You should test your sump pump on a regular basis. Even if does not run all the time, when you need it the most you want to make sure it is working, especially because we can’t predict what the snow melt will bring or heavy spring showers. If your sump runs frequently, it could be a sign of water build up under the basement floor because of poor landscaping which causes improper rain run-off, because of not only the landscaping but gutters that are blocked and not the proper downspout extension pipes and other problems.

You should have a backup sump pump in case the first pump fails. You should also have a battery backup in case you lose power. My son-in-law just had this done because he is in an area that has a high water table. Moisture penetration can cause a lot of water damage and loss of some of your belongings. I myself have had some moisture penetration and had to assess what I had to do to correct the problem. It can happen to anyone at any time, do your best to stop moisture penetration into your home.