Is there any way to keep the pump outside year round, and prevent it from freezing up?
Thanks,
Phil
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I am helping my father deal with a water problem in his backyard. He is land locked, and his yard fills with water. He can't regrade. He lives in the NE (NYC). During the mild months, he has a sump pump move the water from a basin in the yard to the street via PVC piping. Around October, he needs to remove the pump because of the freezing tempertures. Right around now, he ends up with a swamp in the yard as the snow/ice thaws.
Hi philipb,
Yes - You need to 'bury' it BELOW the frost line.
Usually, the dry well is lined w/a cloth material to keep the gravel in the well from becoming 'polluted' with dirt. Then, a bucket/stack is set in the middle of the well, and the pump is lowered onto a small bed of gravel, at the bottom. THen, a pump line is run out the top and into some sort of drain line, like what you have.
THe key here is 1) to put the pump below the frost line. 2) Line the well w/the material, like filter fabric or landscape fabric. 3) line the bottom w 3-4" of 3/4" gravel. 4) set a stack/bucket in the bottom of the well for the pump, and make sure it has LOTS of 'holes' in it for water to make it's way into it. 5) Make sure you have a stack all the way to the TOP of the well for access and maintenance. 6) Fill the rest of the well w/gravel after the stack is inserted. 7) Run the pump line to a secondary drain line, like non-perforated pipe, so the water can be taken away from the well. 8) 'Cap' the well w/nice, landscape gravel, making sure to cover the stack first. (Your stack should 'terminate' about 3" below the surface ...) 9) Most importantly, make sure your pump is rated to pump to the height that you have AND through the water-line that it's pumping through. And make sure it's rated for below-ground use.
If you don't use the right pump, you could be in big trouble. (Just think of what might happen if the pump fails ...) My best to ya and hope this helps.
Jay J Moderator
PS: God Bless America!
