The four parts of a drainage system
| Part | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Drain tile or collection path | Gathers water along the footing | Clear and pitched toward the pit |
| Sump pit | Holds water until the pump runs | Liner, depth, and a lid |
| Pump and float | Lifts water out of the pit | Size, power, and a free-moving float |
| Check valve and discharge | Stops backflow and carries water outside | Pitch, routing, and the outlet |
How a plumber installs one
Pick the location
The pit goes at the lowest point or where water enters, usually a corner near the wall.
Cut and dig the pit
A section of slab is cut, the soil is removed, and a liner is set to the proper depth.
Set the pump and check valve
The pump sits on a firm base with the float clear of the sides, and a check valve is added to the discharge.
Run the discharge
The line goes outside through the rim joist with a slope away from the house and an outlet that can drain.
Test with water
The pit is filled with water to confirm the pump starts, empties, and shuts off.
Basement water after every storm?
Call and describe where it enters. A plumber can design the system.
Add-ons worth considering
- A battery backup pump for power outages.
- A high-water alarm.
- A second pump for large flows.
- A sealed lid to reduce humidity and odor.
- Interior drain tile to carry water to the pit from the whole perimeter.
If water enters from many points, a pit alone may not be enough, and basement waterproofing describes interior drain tile. Repairing an existing system is described under sump pump repair.
Sizing a pump to the water you actually get
Pump size is about volume and lift. A pump that is too small runs constantly and wears out. A pump that is too large short-cycles, turning on and off every few seconds. The right size depends on the rate water enters the pit and how high the discharge has to lift it.
Many homes do well with a third to half horsepower submersible pump, and homes with a high water table or a long discharge run may need more. A plumber estimates the flow by watching how fast the pit fills during wet weather.
Maintenance that keeps it working
- Test the pump by pouring water into the pit every few months.
- Clean the intake screen and remove silt from the pit.
- Check the discharge outlet before winter and after storms.
- Replace the pump before it reaches the end of its life.
- Test the battery backup on a schedule if you have one.
Choosing where the water goes
The discharge point matters as much as the pump. Water should leave the pipe well away from the foundation and flow downhill, not back toward the house or onto a neighbor. In Forest Lake, city code does not allow sump water into the sanitary sewer, so the discharge has to go outside.
A pump that pushes water to a spot that floods back into the pit just cycles the same water again. Walk the yard during a rain and watch where it runs before you settle on the outlet.
What city code says about sump water
According to Forest Lake city code section 52.23, sump pump and footing drain water may not be discharged into the sanitary sewer. A seasonal exception from November 15 to March 15 exists by permit from the City Administrator, and noncompliance carries a monthly charge.
Forest Lake rules on sump water
The City of Forest Lake's code of ordinances, section 52.23, bars roof, sump pump, and footing tile water from the sanitary sewer. Sump and footing lines must be permanent, year-round, and run outside the building or to a city storm sewer. New dwellings with sumps permitted after January 1, 2004 had to have the pump piped to the outside before a certificate of occupancy.
Forest Lake also lies within the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District, which reports that more than 8,160 acres of land and water drain into Forest Lake. For homeowners in Hugo and Wyoming, ask your own city for its discharge rules before routing a line.
Questions Forest Lake Homeowners Ask
Outside the building or to a city storm sewer. The code bars sump and footing water from the sanitary sewer.
A straightforward system takes a day. Larger systems with drain tile take longer.
Ask the Forest Lake building department. Rules vary by project.
It depends on the volume of water and the height it must lift. A plumber sizes it for your basement.
If your basement floods when the power fails, yes. It protects you during storms.
Many last roughly ten years, but heavy use shortens that. Test it regularly and replace an old pump before storm season.
Sources
- Forest Lake Code of Ordinances, section 52.23 (municipal code)
- Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District page on Forest Lake (watershed district page)