Why is there a sump pump in the basement?

Interior · Wet Basements and Crawlspaces · printed page 371 (PDF page 372)

Book index entries

Basement – Sump Pump Sump Pump in Basement Basement – Wet Crawlspace – Wet Wet Basement – and Crawlspaces Wet Crawlspaces and Basements

Text in the illustration

there are reasons other than wet basement problems for having a sump pump in the basement
- the storm sewer may be higher than the perimeter drainage tile that discharges into the sump (not unusual with "infill" houses)
-in some areas local regulations may require a sump pump whether or not there is a problem
street
storm sewer
elevation difference
perimeter drainage
foundation wall
water from perimeter drainage tile or downspouts
sump pump
sump
cross section

Generated explanation

A cross section shows a basement sump and pump beside a foundation wall, with a discharge pipe extending through the wall to a storm sewer beneath the street. Perimeter drainage is shown at the foundation footing, and an inlet carries water from perimeter drainage tile or downspouts into the sump. The storm sewer is higher than the foundation drainage, with the elevation difference marked by a vertical arrow. The pump lifts collected water to the sewer connection. The annotations explain that a sump pump can be needed because of sewer elevation or local regulations, rather than indicating an existing wet-basement problem.

Components

sump pump sump basin pump discharge pipe sump inlet pipe perimeter drainage tile storm sewer foundation wall foundation footing basement floor slab electrical receptacle pump power cord street

Materials

concrete soil gravel water

Related illustrations

1657

Sump pump

· p. 294

The cross section shows a pedestal-type sump pump in a basin below the basement floor beside the foundation wall, receiving water through a side-inlet drain. The pump discharges through a vertical pipe with a check valve

2077

Wet basement clues - part 2

· p. 371

The cross section depicts a basement foundation wall, floor slab, exterior soil, drainage piping, and a sump containing water and a pump. Exterior clues to past water problems include evidence of recent excavation and a