Table of Contents
8 Ideas to Hide a Sump Pump in a Basement Use A Decorative Sump Pump Cover. One of the best ways to hide a sump pump is to install a decorative sump pump cover. Use A Floor To Ceiling Curtain. Build a Closet. Cover with a Chair or Couch. Cover with Fake Flooring. Build a Small Deck. Cover with Plants. Cover with a Rug.
Can you cover a sump pump?
While most sump pumps are effective in removing water, they should always be covered with a gas-tight lid to avoid moisture problems, as well as to prevent the seepage of radon into the home.
What can I use to cover my sump pump?
Radon Sump Pump Cover If you can’t find a cover to fit your sump well, make one out of plywood and seal it to the floor with a foam-rubber gasket, as shown above. Also seal around the penetrations in the cover for the discharge pipe, vent pipe and power cord.
Do sump pumps need to be vented?
Does a sump pump need to be vented? Not all sump pumps need to be vented but in areas with radon they will need a vent.
Can mice enter house through the sump pump?
It’s important to understand that animals such as mice and rats can fit through holes as small as a quarter of an inch wide, which means they could easily be able to come into your home or attic through the passageways that lead to your sump pump.
How much area does a sump pump cover?
In that case, here are some general guidelines: On sandy soil, plan for a system capacity of 14 gallons per minute for every 1,000 square feet of home. In clay soil, plan for a system capacity of 8 gallons per minute for every 1,000 square feet of home.
How do you reduce the sound of a sump pump?
Silence A Sump Pump That Is Making a Loud Noise The Solution: Wrap the pipe where it meets the floor, wall or basin with foam insulation. The Solution: Lubricate it or replace it with a new, less-noisy model. The Solution: Use rubber or waterproof foam material to cover the sections that make contact with one another.
Do sump pumps cause radon?
Can radon come from the sump pump or pit? Yes. Radon is a gas that enters your building from the soil beneath and around your house. These gases can enter your home through the footing drain tile that is connected to the sump pump in your basement.
Are all sump pump covers the same size?
Not every basin is the same size and not all covers fit all basin types so make sure to do your research.
Why do you need a weep hole for sump pump?
The answer is Air Lock. Weep Holes prevent Air Lock in your Sump Pump. An air bubble in your Sump Pump line will cause “Air Lock” and prevent your pump from pumping the water effectively out of your home.
Why do you need a vent hole in a sump pump?
The vent hole allows excess air to escape from the pipe, preventing air bounding.
Do sump pumps need backflow preventer?
Traditional water powered backup sump pumps, located down in the sump pit, have discharge pipes filled with dirty sump water. To guard against this, plumbing authorities generally require that homes with traditional water powered sump pumps install a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) backflow preventer.
Can snakes get in sump pump?
They may have entered through a drain or sump pump. These snakes are harmless. But if you are not skilled with snakes, it is best to call a trapper or your local animal control for assistance. Sometimes people will let large pet snakes go, such as Burmese pythons and boa constrictors, which can be very dangerous.
How do I keep mice out of my sump pump pipe?
Plug around your pipes. Mice can use your water pipes like interstates, traveling through your house at un-catchable speeds. Inspect the places where pipes enter your house. If there’s any space between the pipe and the house siding, seal it up with steel wool and then cover the steel wool and concrete mortar.
Can you drain dehumidifier into sump pump?
Depending on how much moisture is being collected from the air, a dehumidifier bucket typically needs to be emptied every day or two. By attaching a hose and allowing it to drain into a sump pump, you can eliminate the need to empty the humidifier.
How do you keep a sump basin from floating?
Some contractors drill holes in the bottom of the sump basin and around the sides to allow excess water to enter and prevent the basin from floating up. If you choose to drill holes in the basin, make sure the holes are smaller than the “solids handling rating” of the pump (generally 1/4 in. to 1/2 in.
How much water should a sump pump have in it?
If you are sizing your current sump pit for a sump pump, it’s important to know how much water it holds. As a general rule of thumb, for sump pits that are 18” in diameter, each inch of water equals around 1 gallon.
How far will a sump pump push water?
For most average-sized homes in areas with average water tables, a 1/3 HP sump pump should be sufficient. Typically, 1/3 HP pumps can handle 7′ – 10′ vertical lifts from the sump pit if they have one 90-degree elbow and a horizontal pipe run between 3 feet and 25 feet.
How far away from the house should a sump pump drain?
A. Preferably, sump water should be discharged at least 20 feet away from the house. All water from the sump pump should be directed away from the house in such a way that it drains away from the house. It should not be directed onto your neighbor’s lot, into window wells or onto the septic system drain field.
