Exterior Sump Pump Installation

If you have a low section of yard or water laying next to the foundation of your house, an exterior sump pump will help keep the area dry. An exterior sump pump may be a lot less expensive than other options, such as regrading, to solve the problem. Installing an exterior sump pump is easy enough for a homeowner to do without the need for a contractor.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Gravel
• One plastic 5 gallon bucket with lid
• One plastic 70 quart bucket
• Drill with ½ inch drill bit
• Exterior or heavy duty sump pump
• Sump pump hose (long enough to discharge water away from the area)
• Wire screen to large enough to cover 15 gallon pail

Instructions

1. Drill 10 holes in the bottom and about 30 holes in the sides of the 5 gallon bucket so water can flow into the bucket.

2. Drill holes in the sides of the 70 quart bucket so water can leach into the bucket.

3. Dig a hole in the ground where additional drainage is needed that the hole is large enough to set the 70 quart bucket. Dig so there is 2 to 4 inches between the bucket and the walls of the hole. The top of the bucket should be level with the surrounding ground level.

4. Place the 70 quart bucket into the hole.

5. Fill the area between the soil and 70 quart bucket with gravel.

6. Pour about an inch of gravel in the 70 quart bucket.

7. Place the 5 gallon bucket in the center of the 70 quart bucket.

8. Fill the area between the exterior of the 5 gallon bucket and interior of the 70 quart bucket with gravel.

9. Attach the sump pump hose to the sump pump.

10. Place the sump pump in the five gallon bucket so that the float can move freely and cover with lid to prevent someone from accidentally tripping into the bucket.

11. The sump pump hose may be buried or run across the ground depending on the requirements for you application. Be sure the hose is run to an area with good drainage.

12. Place the screen on top to prevent debris from falling into the buckets as well as prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.

13. Cover with choice of covering such as 2 inches of soil or sod for yard installation or matching hardscaping when installed in a patio.

14. If the cord for the sump pump is not long enough to reach an electrical supply, contact an electrician to extend the cord or hard wire into your electrical system.

Tips & Warnings

• If the cord for the sump pump is not long enough to reach an electrical supply, contact an electrician to extend the cord or hard wire into your electrical system. Remove the sump pump during the winter because water freezing around the pump can crack the plastic casing. Clean annually by removing the sump pump, gravel and any soil that has sifted through the gravel. Replace the gravel and buckets as explained above after cleaning.