When people ask about a new sump pump
- Water collects on the basement floor after heavy rain
- The floor stays damp along one wall or corner
- An old pit is cracked, too small or hard to reach
- A finished basement is planned and the owner wants a pump first
What installation can involve
- Choosing a spot: a low point where water collects, near an outlet, with a route out for the discharge line.
- Cutting and removing a section of the basement floor.
- Digging the pit and setting a basin (liner) in it.
- Fitting the pump, float switch, check valve and discharge line out through the wall.
- Patching the floor around the basin and testing the pump with water.
Will a sump pump stop all basement water?
A sump pump removes water that collects in the pit. It may not handle water coming through walls, windows or cracks above the floor, and it does not replace gutters or grading that sends water away from the house. Ask the plumber where they think your water is coming from. For water coming through walls, a waterproofing contractor may be the right call.
Permits and the discharge
Ask whether your municipality needs a permit for the work and where the discharge is allowed to go. Some Pennsylvania municipalities bar connecting a sump pump to the sanitary sewer.
Questions to ask the plumber
- Where would you put the pit, and why there?
- Where will the discharge line leave the house, and where will the water go?
- Does this work need a permit here, and who gets it?
- Who cleans up the concrete and soil, and how is the floor patched?
- Can I have the price and scope in a written contract?
Questions
Do I need a permit to install a sump pump in Lancaster County?
It can depend on your municipality and the work involved. Ask the plumber and check with your municipality before work starts.
Can a sump pump be added to a finished basement?
It may be possible, but cutting the floor affects the flooring and walls near the pit. Ask the plumber to explain what would be opened and how it would be finished.
How long does an installation take?
It depends on the floor, the pit location and the discharge route. Ask the plumber for a time estimate after they have seen the basement.