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Discharge Line

The discharge line is used along with the sump pump to carry water from the pump to the outside of the house.  In a basement waterproofing system, sump pump discharge lines have several important factors:

1. They generally install at about an 8 foot head- this means that the discharge line runs straight upwards about eight feet before being level with the yard.  When checking for a sump pump, be sure to find out how much it can pump at an eight foot head.  If it can pump 3,500 gallons at a 0 foot head, that simply means it can swirl water around at 3,500 gallons per hour.  What good is that?  An AC powered sump pump (a sump pump that runs on electric power from a plug) that can pump water at 2,000 gallons at an 8 foot head is a good, strong pump


2. A sump pump discharge line needs to be large enough to hold ALL the water that the sump pump discharges.  Many sump pump installations try to push more water up the discharge line than can be held by the pipe, which renders backup sump pumps useless.


3. Once the discharge line is run outside, it should go away from the backfilled area of the foundation and should run downhill to prevent the water from running back into the sump pit.  This leads the water away from the home without adding it back to the foundation to be pumped out once more.  Many homeowners run their discharge lines into nearby streams or other similar areas.


4. Sump pump discharge lines cannot be buried in the cold winter months when the ground is frozen, but when the ground is thawed, they should be placed underground to avoid an eyesore.  There are many products that can protect the discharge point from clogging with dirt and debris like Basement System's Lawnscape Outlet.  This product blends in with the lawn while keeping the discharge pipe clear.


5. All sump pump discharge lines should have a line of protection from freezing water clogging the system.  Basement Systems uses the IceGuard system, which adds a drain at the base of the house to protect the system from backing up in the case of a sump pump discharge point that is clogged by snow or ice.

See also: IceGuard