DIY Sump Basin and Pump Install

Our basement drainage system was failing and flooding the basement when the outside ground became saturated with rain water.
Installation of this sump pit and pump solved the issue.
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Explaining the issue
03:38 - Opening inspection hole in floor
08:27 - Drilling holes in sump basin
10:17 - Opening hole in floor
14:50 - Digging hole
15:07 - Placing basin + adding gravel
16:47 - Finishing with concrete
19:36 - Assembling the sump pump
22:17 - Install sump pump + plumb discharge pipe
27:08 - Run GFI outlet
32:05 - Outro

[@TGS2AUSA2024]

The project looked great after finishing. DIY without the expensive costs! Very professional work and attention to the smallest detail was covered.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I appreciate the feedback, glad you enjoyed the process!

[@striker1211]

This is one of the best DIY videos I've ever watched. Perfect amount of detail and properly paced. This video will help me a lot. Thank you.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful!

[@ibsphones]

Amazing job by the way!!! Love the step by step video and explanation of each part!!!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thank you!

[@eugeneogrady3656]

Great job ! Nice to watch quality work done.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!

[@christopherslocum9454]

I basically just did this for friends house but was easier to go to Home Depot and rent the concrete cut off saw took 5 mins and cut a 18x22 sump basin quickly. Ty for sharing

[@TGS2AUSA2024]

This video looks exactly like a project I need to do. My floor tapers to the low spot where the drain is located. Heavy rains create the hydrostatic pressuer and weeping through the floor.

[@c0pyimitati0n]

If you work with PVC a lot, I highly recommend getting a cheap PVC cutter. It's like a ratchet scissor and it works great. It's a hell of a lot quicker and easier than a saw.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I don't work with PVC very often. Saw works good enough for occasional use, although the cutters do make a nice clean cut

[@c0pyimitati0n]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY I think I picked mine up for less than $8 several years ago and I've used it countless times. It's just a nice tool to have around I think.

[@christopheranderson8275]

Great job! Looks good. This video will show my son what he needs to do for his basement. Thanks for the video!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks! Glad to hear this will help out your son!

[@crystalgreen3832]

Thanks for sharing your work! Nice job!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!

[@danconlan8735]

Nice job and it looks like you got a pretty good workout with busting up that concrete! Slainte, DC🍀

[@marissaacampora6369]

Very good work 👏. Im trying to make repairs also and u would be a great teacher 👍

[@JT-yz4rj]

Excellent work man. Great all around.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks man, appreciate it!

[@DrLaFuria]

Hard work. And great results. 👍

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!

[@geoffjenkins4633]

Best diy basement sump install video I've come across so far (out of many). Thanks, man. Hope it's working well for you.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!! Sump is working great, no issues whatsoever

[@davidkirkham6497]

Congrats, Man! That was not an easy job, and you did it with fairly basic tools! Good explanation & video!👍🇨🇦

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@acastilloboros4623]

easy to understand. Awesome video

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!

[@angelrey646]

Great work

[@hotcher2]

I just hired 3 guys to do the work you did here. You are brave and tough as snot to be able to do this all on your own without even a jackhammer. Nice work!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks man. I bet 3 people get it done in a fraction of the time though.

[@hotcher2]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY Yeah about 4 hours.

[@zorkabess]

An improvement would have been to add a geo textile fabric in the hole against the dirt to prevent migration of silt into the gravel. Not doing that step will slow the flow of under slab water over to the sump pit.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

The fabric will just end up creating a barrier clogged with silt over time ...

[@miguelcolon8929]

Good job

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!

[@vectorm4]

Hmmm, angle the weep hole down; very obvious after hearing it, but that didn't occur to me. Good tip!

[@roiipatterson]

Gr8 vid. Tks!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!

[@Mark-hb5zf]

Nice DIY video. One suggestion tho: Don't plug the dehumidifier into the same outlet. If the dehumidifier has an issue and trips the breaker...it takes the sump pump out too. Other possible issue is if the dehumidifier and sump pump both happen to kick on at the same time, that might be a bit much for the breaker too. Maybe I missed it, but how does the water get into the basin? Thru the bottom, side, or both? In my setup, I ran out side to a 4" landscaping tile (the black stuff). Solid near the house, then switched over to perforated about 20' ft. out.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Good suggestions. I didn't think about the possibility of blowing a fuse ... I'll look into changing that. Water enters from the sides of the basin That's exactly what I have planned. 4" landscaping tile surrounded with gravel to collect both sump water and ground water and direct it all far away from the house

[@Mark-hb5zf]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY LOL, The only reason I mentioned the dedicated outlet is because I had 'sump pump' discussions at work (I'm an electrical engineer) a number of years ago with fellow engineers and we all brain-stormed drainage for our houses for some weird reason. I had dual sump pumps (but one also being a battery backup combo) all in a single pit - two completely separate systems. "Yeah, I'm covered" I thought. One day the comment was made: "Are they on the same breaker?" Duh!...single point failure! Took care of that when I finished the basement. So now they are on separate, dedicated breakers. And to top it off, a Generac whole house generator!

[@slip0n0fall]

If you didn't know already those holes in your strippers are meant to make perfectly shaped loops on your solid wire ends

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Hmm, didn't realize that. I've always used a pair of needle nose. I'll have to try that next time and see which I like better

[@delt19]

Was the drain tile under the slab a clay pipe? I'm curious why you didn't connect the existing drain tile that runs under the slab to the sump pit? The drain tile is catching and moving water in a specific direction (i.e., towards sump pit) so you could've made it much easier for it to do its job by connecting it to the sump pit to be pumped out. Instead the water it catches and moves has to go through the gravel? Nice work regardless. Hopefully it works well for you and mitigates the water/moisture problems.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Yup it essentially butts up against the side of the basin where I drilled additional holes, and has a couple of inches of gravel in between. Should work the same way, if you think about it, gravel is what made early French drains so good at directing water in a certain direction.

[@iviaverick52]

Great video! When I have heavy rain for 24 hours, the water table rises and I start to get weeping through my basement slab. My basement is finished, but I'm doing renovations on the room that I'm considering putting a sump pit in. If my house doesn't have any existing drain tile, will a pit installed in the manner you did still help keep things dry when the water table rises?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

It's possible. However without some way to direct the water to the area of the sump, I'm not sure it would be very effective.

[@joepacheco7979]

Didn't need to glue the adapter to the pump. Hand tight is enough. Not even teflon tape. Besides, PVC glue melts both joints to fuse.

[@peterfagley772]

You make it look easy, very nice job. A question, I've view some videos where they wrap the sump bucket in cloth to keep out sand and sediment. What do you think? Not necessary?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I saw that too, I steered away from doing that ... my thought process was that over time the cloth would become gunked up with sediment and water wouldn't flow as well into the sump pit.

[@bbiz1642]

Great job. Do you need to holes in the basin?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Yes, the ground water rises from under the foundation, without holes, no water would enter the basin.

[@eddiea3782]

Very well done. I enjoyed watching your video.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks!

[@sku32956]

looks good I would have drilled a hole in the plate instead of the basement wall ,never dump sump pump water into a French Drain use a solid pipe all the way to day light .I would not put a sump pump on a GFI it can trip easy then you have major issues .I know code may say other wise check into what I said .

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Unfortunately, French drain is going to be the only reasonable way to do it. Solid pipe up here in the north will cause freezing problems ... at least for the length I have to go. It will be solid for probably 15yds away from the house and then transition to French drain tile which will go roughly 120ft give or take, eventually emptying to daylight

[@user-ve8ub6mf8q]

i need this in my house in long island NY. Any issues now that it has been working?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

No issues whatsoever, works like a champ

[@alexchu1]

What is that grey box on the wall called? Does it connect to a garage/shed outside?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

It's the power for my pole barn

[@volkan_boston]

thank you, is it 18wx22-24H basin?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

This is the one I used, www.lowes.com/pd/Jackel-High-Density-Polyethylene-Structural-Foam-Basin/1000600009

[@0utsiderBG]

Very good video and well done. My house is not in a flood zone but when major storm hits I have water in my basement. Do you think the sump pump will do the job or I need a french drain also ? Thank you!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Well, I would say that overall, a French drain system would always be better than a sump pump as the French drain will keep water away from your foundation in the first place. But if you have a decent place to outlet the sump water where it will drain away from the house then just a sump is a good option as it's cheaper and much less labor intensive

[@0utsiderBG]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY Thank you! Looking for opinions from people who have done just a sump pump cause doing the french drain is a big mess and a lot of money..

[@geoffsmith82]

From my youtubing, 3 important considerations are roof guttering, Soil Falling away from foundations, and finally drainage - with the drain being away from the house and not directly against the wall.

[@delt19]

Your house doesn't have to be in a flood zone for you to get water. As you say, storm water is enough for your basement to have standing water. You may be putting the horse before the cart by asking which solution works for your situation. Do you have an idea how the water is entering your house? Is it in one specific area/corner or does it come in from various parts of the foundation wall?

[@0utsiderBG]

@@delt19 Comes all over around the walls down where the wall meets the floor

[@karendaley292]

What's on the top of the bucket / basin? Looks like it has a lid?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Yup its a lid. Both kinds of basins I talked about come with lids (Usually sold separately tho)

[@TGS2AUSA2024]

If the water comes through the drain only wouldn't a stand pipe help? Is there any hydrostatic pressure through any floor cracks causing weeping? There also may be water setting the cinder blocks. I'm no pro or expert by far. Just what I have experienced and seen in other videos. Any mold issues?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

In the video, you can see the narrow drain channels along the walls in the concrete floor. The channel to the left where the door is has holes drilled down to the gravel beneath. I found that out when I used an expandable plug to try to plug the drain and the water just came up through the holes. The basement itself definitely has some water issues. It's a 60 year old home ... basements in my area at least weren't really built to be a finished living space back then. A French drain system around the foundation will help big time and is on my list of projects to complete in probably the next couple years or so ... Ideally the best solution would be to dig around the entire exterior foundation and waterproof the outside of the foundation but that's a pretty massive project so I think I'm just going to do the French drain and call it good.

[@dennismcguirl1546]

What is the size of basin? Also what is stop the water from leaving the basin if it fills slowly?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

This is the basin: www.lowes.com/pd/Jackel-High-Density-Polyethylene-Structural-Foam-Basin/1000600009 I'm not sure about your second question. Water either collects and is pumped away or it doesnt.

[@tannerc900]

This is exactly the video I was hoping to find! My only question does it HAVE to be by the drain or wherever the lowest point is? I ask because the most lowest point in my basement is where the floor drain is but it’s right in front of the washing machine and dryer hook ups so id rather but my sump pump somewhere else, does the lowest point really matter that much? Thank you again tho, this video really helped a lot. I’m subscribing!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Best practice would be to put it at the lowest point, yes. Any water that may intrude through the foundation will naturally flow along the floor to the lowest point where it will drain into the top of the basin. However, if your issue is like mine where ground water rises up the drain. You could potentially move it elsewhere. As long as there isn't a huge difference in height (the slab should be flat so there shouldn't be) you could probably put it as close to the lowest point but not interfering with the the washer and dryer. Most slabs are poured on top of gravel so your sump basin would be down in the gravel layer allowing water to filter toward the basin when the water table rises and then your pump would work to remove that water collecting below the slab.

[@tannerc900]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY awesome! Thanks for the reply. Greatly appreciated :)

[@landedinlukla]

Took a few hours to cut the slab with a Hilti and a 1 inch bit. No idea how you did this with that tiny bit and a battery powered hammer drill

[@franciscoandrade5333]

Did you seal off the old drain or leave it

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I left the pipes in place they terminate just outside the basin so they would still direct water into the basin

[@rodgernelson5464]

Just wondering what year your house is ? I have a similar drain my house was built in 57

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

'63

[@dennismcguirl1546]

Did you wrap the basin in a fabric to stop sediment and pebbles from going into the basin?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

No, my concern was that the fabric will become clogged up with sediment over time and block flow into the basin. I can say that other than an initial .5" layer of sediment that lined the bottom of the basin immediately after installing, no additional sediment had collected since then.

[@dennismcguirl1546]

So after a couple years has there been any issues with this? We have the same issue in our house that was built almost 60 years ago. I am considering doing the same.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

No issues whatsoever.

[@TGS2AUSA2024]

How large was the gravel stone?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

This is what I used... www.lowes.com/pd/Sakrete-0-5-cu-ft-Gray-Gravel/1000489233

[@avetsuper6272]

why you did drill 3/16 hole level with the pump ??? thanks

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

The hole is referred to as a weep hole. It prevents the pump from developing an air lock and burning up. Be sure to angle the hole so the water sprays down and not against the wall of the pit

[@avetsuper6272]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY thanks bro..is that all pumps or just one that you have?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

All sump pumps that I'm aware of

[@avetsuper6272]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY thanks

[@matbob7249]

Dude, I’m not rich but I would have paid you to rent a Jack hammer… amount of time taken to drill not worth 50$ savings. Great video, doing same next week! Thank you

[@johntorrington2672]

Jack hammers destroy everything in the house and crack windows. He did it correctly since the house is occupied.

[@matbob7249]

@@johntorrington2672 what Jack hammer you talking about? The one used to fight godzilla? Lol. I have dewalt small hammer drill, using hammer mode I can do a manicure in a flash of time. It’s XXI century, there’s ways to pamper yourself using technological advancements

[@johntorrington2672]

@@matbob7249 Well, if you want quick and easy with no vibration, just rent a core drill with an 18" wet bit! My hand would fall off going through a 4-6" hardened slab with those little hammer drills.

[@matbob7249]

@@johntorrington2672 concept would be believable if I would not have tried that mini jack. It is by far my favorite tool and I have full dewalt collection. You drill with it on hammer drill mode first, of course, which goes like through the butter. And you chisel on hammer mode in between holes, I dropped sump pump through slab in less than 2 hours. Amazing tool but not for commercial of course

[@stalkinghawk9244]

Only thing I can suggest is to use a Hammer Drill, I think drilling that with that small dewalt wasn't so much fun^^

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

It is a hammer drill ...

[@pauliebraz7309]

why would you glue a threaded fitting?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I explained why in the video. I also explained that it was a mistake and why it shouldn't be glued.

[@dennismadigan2023]

W Nice job but why buy stone when you could just clean and use the stone you dug out?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

The gravel under the foundation was just a bit larger than what I wanted to use. Plus between the clay and large stones that came out of the hole, I would have had to buy some to add to it anyway. Not saying it couldn't have been reused, just personal preference I guess

[@dennismadigan2023]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY thanks for your reply. Nice job. I have to put one in my basement this year and my brother's basement too. His floor looks just like yours.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Good luck!

[@nuancedliars112]

So 2" is not ideal??? What if I buried it?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

4" is best if you want to avoid the possibility of water not draining all the way and freezing. But the 2" I used has worked fine through all the sub zero temps so far this winter.

[@nuancedliars112]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY What temps exactly?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

So far the coldest it's seen was -5 for a couple days, kicks on several times a day, drains completely without problems

[@pkaronis1]

How is this working now?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Like a champ!

[@kennelindgren6685]

Doesn't the basin get a cover?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

It has one

[@luisbatista1103]

You should of had that pipe that was already there (diagonal) pipeed into your pit and the other piece od pipe out to your dry well pipeped into pit as well not to mention you should of been flush with the floor and allowed 2" plus around to have better drainage into your pit and put more river stone as we call it here pipe the outflow through rim joice easier than drill through concrete wall......other than that good video....👍🇨🇦

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Both pipes are essentially against the outer wall of the basin, several more holes drilled where they face the wall, they should drain into the pit at the same rate as if they stuck directly into the basin. Even though the one edge of the basin stuck up a little, that area of the floor is a low spot so should any water end up on the floor, it still will flow to that corner and in. Yea, I know I should have had more gravel but it just seemed like an unnecessarily large hole to dig for ground water that only presents itself as a problem a couple months out of the year.

[@sku32956]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY They are called weeping tiles I would have put them in the pit .

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Yes. The holes are drilled to allow water to seep into the pit. Pretty positive I mentioned it in the video.

[@ibsphones]

Heard of allot of bad reviews on this zoeller lowes pump. Get the zoeller m53 from pluming house.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

So far I've had no issues.

[@wooddawg4868]

Why assume this and assume that when you could have it checked to know for sure?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I assume that's because I didn't want to.

[@nolansmokes]

Need some insulation now in those bonds

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

What?

[@nolansmokes]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY insualtion in the rim joists

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

It's an unfinished basement

[@nolansmokes]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY yeah mainly for the floor above that’s why we do it not for the basement

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to do that next year when I replace the basement windows.

[@AngeloR674]

Newer pumps! a weephole is not needed!!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

It's been a while since I installed it but I'm pretty positive the installation manual required using a weep hole

[@AngeloR674]

You forgot teflon tape around the coupling!!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Which coupling?

[@brianmedeiros417]

No gfci should be used and it pump should be on dedicated circuit.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I beg to differ, but that's the thing about home improvement, 100 different people will tell you it should be done 100 different ways. I did enough research and studying to determine this to be the best route.

[@johnjoesdeli]

Never glue a threaded pvc

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Yup, it was a mistake, I pointed it out in the video.

[@dennisbeck9748]

should have wrapped in filter cloth.

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Yea, I know that's a thing, but because of the clay content, I didn't want it to get clogged up with clay over time and stop water from being able to enter the basin effectively

[@nuancedliars112]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY How has it been without the cloth and how big are the holes to the pastic basin itself?

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Everything is fine without the cloth, water is crystal clear, very small amount of sediment on the bottom. I believe I used a 3/8 bit when I drilled the holes

[@nuancedliars112]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY how many holes? I have 1/3 powered punmp.... Is that aworthy pump? Baracuda

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I didn't count the holes, it's not an exact science, you can see in the video about how far apart I spaced them. 1/3 hp can handle 7 to 10 vertical feet of lift with one 90 connected to 3 to 25 feet of discharge pipe Depending on brand 1/3 is good for anywhere from 2000 to 4000 gallons per hour

[@bigeric8334]

Hey dude this better be worth the 32 minutes

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Seems like condensing a 1.5 day project into 32 minutes isn't too big a deal to watch :)

[@HavenMade]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY It was definitely worth my last 32 minutes. Great video! Great work!

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Thanks man, glad you liked it!

[@TheHighKirk]

The devil is always in the details.

[@joebuck120]

Lmfao dude really drilled a shit ton of holes in a square, talk about DIY

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

How would you have done it?

[@joebuck120]

Probably a concert saw but that’s just me

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

Most people don't just have a concrete saw at their disposal. I also mentioned in the video that a jack hammer would have been nice too. The hole drilling method is actually pretty common to get a clean break for those who don't have those tools but do have a hammer drill

[@joebuck120]

@@TwoFourSevenDIY it worked but I’d rather shell out $100 to rent a saw for a day then spend a whole day drilling holes and it would have taken about 2 minutes to cut that out not to mention the couple hundred hits with a sledge 4 cuts two hits with a sledge and you saved half a day of time

[@sku32956]

I would have rented a small hammer for 20 to 30 dollars from Depot lot easier but what he did should work .

[@fmfpower20]

You did NOT just glue the threads of that coupler into the pump..... 🫣🫣🤣🤣🤣. O M G

[@TwoFourSevenDIY]

I did. I mentioned in the video that after I did it I realized I should not have