Solving flooded courtyard with dewatering sump pumps

This courtyard had no drainage whatever and would fill up with water after rain events. We installed three sump basins and piped the gutters directly into them. Three Zoeller M98 sump pumps then pump the water to the parking lot.
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[@Rick-tb4so]

I think your the only one that shows it when it rain....

[@GCFD]

I don't see why that might be. It's my favorite part!

[@Verdant02]

@@GCFD You might be one of the few that truly stand behind their work!

[@michaelpeck4033]

@@GCFD Ours too!

[@HJCF0520]

Nice! Thank you for showing the system during rain!

[@GCFD]

No problem! Although it's more time consuming, I find it very satisfying to see that water gonee.

[@bc057]

that "I have no comment about the water hitting the bumper, I have warned them" shot, hilarious!

[@GCFD]

🤣

[@pinzgauernorcal]

the rain videos make it worth watching

[@GCFD]

👍

[@CT-kv3ue]

Good work! Post10 would be proud!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@wesworld98]

What a crossover

[@DigitalIP]

Niceeee, glad you did the rain shot.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! Thanks for watching!

[@steventrinh9524]

One of the best water outflows shots! Thanks for another great video. That parking spot will be the last one filled during rain day.

[@GCFD]

Haha for sure 👍

[@scrunchiiface]

My kids would be occupying that parking spot in their swimsuits!

[@bobscott9253]

I like the build. I'd would add unions in the pumps for servicing and more supports on horizontal runs from the roof so it won't say over time. The actual tests are priceless.

[@GCFD]

Great tip Bob. We didn't install unions because we didn't want the pumps to walk away on their own, given the area.

[@bobscott9253]

@@GCFD Wow that's a good call! Now you say that you guys make sure to tighten those bolts everytime too! 🙌🏼

[@adavazquez3378]

I love sound of that train in the background, you guy's are very hard working thank you.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@brentking-gmailking2570]

Great job. That should work well for them. Have a great weekend.

[@GCFD]

You too!

[@JW-nn3mi]

Awesome video and love how you always go back to the job to see it in action.

[@GCFD]

Thank you JW. It's my favorite part seeing the system working.

[@onefixitman]

I like how you tape your primer and glue together. Great job again.

[@GCFD]

An old plumber taught me that. It's a great way to roll.

[@kaushalvora7244]

How many times I mudt have seen this video.. just feels good to see a good job done...

[@BRICEN18]

Definitely a unique situation a little forethought in the building phase would have eliminated this issue. But you sure solved it!! Nice work.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@Helloreality101]

I love how you do your after the job, on the next rain videos!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@justincarlson2548]

Great work. I install underground sprinklers. Very similar idea with the piping

[@GCFD]

Thank you Justin!

[@cucina57]

I remember doing a lot of that type of work when I was 2nd year plumbing apprentice about 1981, I received my master plumbers license 1992. Good job!

[@GCFD]

Nice!

[@bc5891]

Now that's what i call problem solved. Great work!

[@GCFD]

Thank you! Thanks for watching!

[@jimbeck6093]

Awesome!! My new favorite channel!!

[@GCFD]

Thank you Jim! Thanks for your support, Shawn

[@jimbeck6093]

@@GCFD gotta support my fellow North Carolinians!!🐺

[@francismorganstern6455]

Post 10 would be proud of you

[@chongjunxiang3002]

Post 10 might hate him if his design ended up create flood instead lol But mostly its municipal fault for not dealing with trash problem and loose leaf.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@JohnJohn-cu7nk]

In the UK we dig a big hole ,line it with a permeable membrane then stack plastic crates similar to beer crates,.In the middle or near the bottom you'd put an aerated box with an automatic sump pump. The crates are completely wrapped in the membrane with A layer of stone surrounding to prevent soil getting in.

[@ojhawksley]

We'd also have to bury the pipes 600mm deep and limit the outflow rates to prevent overloading the wider drainage system.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@NealORussa]

Nice, that was great to see them pumping down at the end! If it was light out it would have been a cool timelapse to see the courtyard dry up!

[@GCFD]

Good call Neal! I like the timelapse stuff

[@wickedmasshole2258]

Have you considered possibly putting the pumps on the pedestals that go inside the basins to help allow more sediment to build up before the impeller would get blocked. We did have warranty’s that required yearly inspections, so we were always seeing what not to do from other poor work. I see they are quality Zoller pumps, but I have done many basement and yard jobs that the basins are full of sediment, causing either the pump not to pump when float is tripped, overheating pump if run for way to long, or the switch won’t shut off because the float won’t fall low enough. Just some food for thought.

[@GCFD]

Great point! These pumps can handle up to 1/2" solids so they pump the debris right out of the basins. They are expensive but they last and work very well. Great comment!

[@kevinrenn9123]

I saw that muddy discharge and was wondering if the pumps would get clogged. What do you think about cleaning the gutters, putting screens on top of the gutters and smaller holes/filer/gravel on top sump covers to prevent sediment from entering the system? Not trying to be an armchair quarterback, but these videos really help be understand the trade better

[@pauldunecat]

@@kevinrenn9123 I think the muddy water was from the basins overflowing from the gutters before the pumps were activated with the extension cords. The mud was likely loose soil from the hole to install the sump basins. A couple rains and it would likely just be clean water.

[@kamrankhan78]

Excellent videos. Liked them all.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! - Shawn

[@bryanbatts]

Sweet!!! The end was great!!!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@bohhica1]

Awesome video and job. Love the after video.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Lloyd

[@joshg1244]

I really like the idea of the grated lids. If I were the customer I would have been upset by the concrete dust

[@GCFD]

👍

[@stevek5600]

Love waterproofing, been doing it for 3 years now up here in Michigan

[@GCFD]

Nice!

[@taylordougherty292]

Videos are really entertaining.

[@GCFD]

Thanks! Thanks for watching, Shawn

[@johnnyz7752]

Nice job, except I would have put a rubber cap on the PVC pipe where the power cord comes out. Just cut an X in the rubber cap, push the power cord through the X and push the rubber cap on to the end of the PVC pipe. Prevents small animals from nesting in the PVC pipe.

[@Mark.Watson]

That's a nice system.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! It was a difficult situation, plus they added a sidewalk where we were originally planning to take our pipe and they said we couldn't touch the sidewalk. It had to do with accessibility with the new sidewalk and they didn't want to get in trouble.

[@uxbman]

Impressive.

[@GCFD]

Thank you B A!

[@MrRickoscar]

Nice job.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@gardeningwithlucas5114]

NICE WORK

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@The_Archer-he2ft]

That water coming out is going to be more of an issue sooner or later, but not your fault the guy put a sidewalk in the original spot

[@GCFD]

👍

[@baron1c]

You should try Diablo pruning blades for you reciprocating saw if you’re not using them already. Goes through roots really well.

[@GCFD]

I have used those and they are wonderful. Thank you!

[@crypto-capital]

Good job

[@GCFD]

👍

[@paulduman4267]

So cool 😎

[@GCFD]

👍

[@tycopple8556]

Great work as always. I'm just curious how you find a group of loyal/hardworking guys willing to do this type of work these days

[@GCFD]

You take exceptionally good care of them, provide lunch, provide an easy-going atmosphere focused on getting the job done correctly and not "saving money" and value their experience and opinion/input. 👍

[@brianwelteroth9248]

Easy way to wash your intercooler or radiator on the front of your car. You know ole Granny at the retirement center there just needs all the HPs.

[@GCFD]

Yep!

[@larryehrlich57]

Suggest to the owners that they buy spare pumps. This will avoid future water issues when these pumps fail.

[@MrPhotodoc]

Attention to details is what makes the job go well. You guys have that in spades.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Chuck! I am fortunate to have a crew that values doing a good job with everything they touch.

[@WaltWW]

Next time install unions on the discharge pipes on those sump pumps... to make your life easier when you have to pull them for cleaning, replacement, etc.

[@GCFD]

We normally install unions. In this case we didn't install them because there are a lot of people around and we didn't want the pumps walking off on their own. I should have mentioned that!

[@bobcougar77]

Great work! well thought out and executed. I watched a couple of videos and one thing you can improve on is your finish concrete patches. They look like they were done without much care. Just a few minutes more work and one of the most visible aspects of the job looks professional. Maybe it's just the 2 videos I watched were the exception.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Bob! We've been improving the concrete stuff and it makes a big difference, like you said.

[@bobcougar77]

@@GCFD I'm just a remodeling contractor, not a concrete guy. But one tool I use a lot to match finishes is a tile sponge: I use it early to clean up the spillage and later on to match a texture. I also tend to use "Cement all" (Home depot rapid set concrete) It's a hot mix and has a bit of a learning curve, but it will go from feather finish to 4" and is ready for the final finish in minutes. Cheers man, thanks for the content.

[@kevinm5177]

Great video. I did a similar job at my first house which had an enclosed courtyard. I often wonder if the new owners have maintained it.

[@GCFD]

If they are smart they have! It's a lot easier to maintain than install a new system. 👍

[@curtwarkentin6167]

Dang I wish I could do that up here in Canada. Problem is the bitter cold in winter would freeze lines like that. We get lots of water every spring as the snow melts

[@GCFD]

Luckily we don't have temperatures like you do!

[@TheNotoriousNemo]

I just wanted to note, when I cut concrete the silica dust gives you cancer. About 3 years ago on the job site we had to wear facemasks, something to think about, and use water to cut back on the dirt

[@GCFD]

We use water when we cut concrete. This worker didn't use it and I wasn't paying attention.

[@Chestnut0923]

Areas like this are the reason I’m looking into buying a 1-1.5 ton mini(micro) excavator.

[@chiensean]

It’s fascinating to see drainage being pumped onto open roads. Here in Kuala Lumpur we would not be allowed to do that. Houses with that build up would require at least 1’x1’x1’ open drains and it would be channeled to the main sewerage at least 3’ deep. Otherwise it would not be able to hold up to 500mm rain per hour 😆

[@GCFD]

👍

[@jamesbh101]

Some countries like Australia it is illegal to put stormwater into the sewer system.

[@RamonInNZ]

@@jamesbh101 And New Zealand - we're spending big money separatng the two cntury old systems!

[@bg147]

It is incredible how these buildings are constructed with little attention paid to drainage.

[@benzworks8453]

Those pumps are no joke

[@GCFD]

👍

[@plumbcrazy375]

Tell the guy priming the pipe a 1/2 " that the whole joint needs to be primed especially on a pump discarge

[@RaddestDad]

Who ever parks at that curb is gonna have a terrible day if it rains. That’s a lot of splash discharge.

[@GCFD]

Yep

[@SlackerU]

10/10, 16:50 there may be something to study here as the center discharge seems to be syphoning better than the others.

[@GCFD]

Thanks! That center discharge is coming from the sump basin with two gutters draining into it. I think there was more standing water there for it to continue pumping.

[@nberardi103]

@@GCFD and length of discharge pipe. Middle seemed to be a shorter run to the parking lot.

[@ammazcd]

PSA - For all of you kids watching this, don't play with electricity while standing in water!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@electricaf365]

And you’ve obviously never been on a construction site. Drop cords laying in standing water all the time.

[@ammazcd]

@@electricaf365 no I have not but I know water and electricity don't go well together.

[@ammazcd]

@@electricaf365 whatever

[@chrismalone4491]

A lot of balls to the guys core drilling that way done that one time and man almost lost a limb

[@Chris_In_Texas]

I think I would have cut the bumper in the middle anchor down each end and have two pieces instead, which would let the water flow through it.

[@GCFD]

We thought about that but it was up to the property manager.

[@sku32956]

With GFI power outlet they can trip from water/power surge have to use them code plus safer ,you need to keep up on it see if it is tripped every so often .

[@GCFD]

Great advice! Otherwise it trips and no pumps working.

[@RockStarKidsMom]

A little extra work would have got those pipes under the sidewalk with no issues. The concrete you just poured is going to crack and deteriorate

[@GCFD]

The sidewalk was installed recently and had to do with accessibility. We were forbidden to go near it.

[@markg7963]

I’m going to suggest to you please use schedule 40 electrical conduit for your electrical work. It’s easier to pull wires through because of the wide sweep 90s, but more importantly if somebody digs into it they should immediately recognize it isn’t a water pipe before they cut into it. This job looked like a lot of work!

[@GCFD]

We use 1 1/2" pressure PVC to run the cords through because we already have that pipe on the truck.

[@jamesbh101]

How about just running some hazard tape around / over the pipe. There is always one idiot that does not check what they are doing.

[@jakeo2600]

@@GCFD Stupidity!

[@sum42guy2k]

Not sure if it was possible in this situation as I wasn’t there to see everything but I would personally recommend for this one single sump with the lines running into it and directly connect it to the storm drain in the parking lot without a pump. If it needed to go up in elevation is when using pumps works, but try to eliminate any failure points which having pumps adds a few.

[@GCFD]

I agree with your reasoning! Installing pumps is my absolute last resort because they are a constant expense and maintenance item. The courtyard has a brick wall around it with no fall towards the street. Sometimes you gotta pump that water...

[@Landofmagic678]

i suggest using the m95 their the improved version of the m98 with a 2 year longer warranty, a better switch system and better heat give off

[@GCFD]

I'll def check into it! Thanks for the tip!

[@robertgregory2618]

Looks good. Did you check gutters and whether they have screens to keep leaves from all the trees out of the discharge pumps. I know pumps will pump it but that would cut down on discharge waste onto driveway, which could get slippery.

[@GCFD]

I don't want screens on anything in these systems. The reason is they never get maintained and eventually clog. Then the whole system is useless. I want the debris to flow into and through the system. The only exception is gutter guard over the gutters.

[@Eman5697]

Love your videos! Amazing craftsmanship and pride in your work. I wanted to ask, why not plumb all three pumps into one 4” pipe out the curb rather than do them all individually? That way you don’t need to have the required fall? Just let the pump shove it out? I’m Curious haha.

[@GCFD]

If any of the check valves failed you'd be pumping water into the other sump basins, including the customer's basement! I like three independent systems so I never have to worry. Great question! 👍

[@Eman5697]

@@GCFD awesome! Thanks for the reply, the more you know! Love the videos, keep it up man!

[@tyronewilliams2097]

88r

[@AR-cp5dz]

17:05 It's like the fountains at The Bellagio

[@GCFD]

👍

[@joea2274]

Over all good work but definitely need to get more practice on the cement work.

[@ScottHz]

yeah, silicosis much? :P

[@joea2274]

Foot trowel LoL

[@GCFD]

👍

[@bf2695]

@@ScottHz Was wearing ear protection though, he'll be able to hear himself coughing to death..... These guys certainly don't take safety in the workplace seriously. Do good work though

[@user-pwfus]

I think if they re-directed they're down spouts to the parking area that problem would have been solved this is just putting a band aid on the actual problem. That sump pump system needs an electrical breaker panel for all of those pumps.

[@GCFD]

There was no way to direct the downspouts uphill to the parking lot and through that concrete wall. We would have loved to do that for sure!

[@neilbrookins8428]

I like this design for what I see. But I’m concerned that there is no alarm or failure alerting system. For a minimal extra cost you could use a wifi connected power monitoring device along with some custom software to alert based on various failure scenarios. Or, a different option would be to add a high water alarm above the pump- basically a second float. These could send a message to the property owner automatically. I work in IT and create monitoring systems for my employer. So this is easy for me. You could get a similar system as I described that’s pre- made and ready to use out of the box from pumpspy. I’ve never used that one as I designed my own. But in this environment shown in the video the smart outlet from pumpspy seems like a perfect fit.

[@GCFD]

Great idea!

[@ryanglaser5336]

​@@GCFDadds value to the job for little cost

[@gzahirny]

All the ground water, maybe it would have been better with perforated basins

[@GCFD]

This was all surface water and not subsurface water. Since we piped the gutters directly into the basins we went with solid basins with perforated lids.

[@kubiedubie]

any recommendations for installing pumps in cold climates? should i install heat trace to prevent things from icing up?

[@marctrossbach6560]

Nice setup; do builders normally plan for drainage like this, or is this more of an afterthought?

[@GCFD]

I often see it as an afterthought, where a little planning could have avoided it completely. It's easy to look back so maybe we don't know what all they had in the plan.

[@larryehrlich57]

I had a plumber buddy who told me to always twist the plastic pipe when you insert it into the female joint. He said it will always glue any voids/bubbles in the glue area that you did not see. He would always insist that his employees twist the glued pipe to prevent call backs.

[@GCFD]

I have worked mainly with schedule 80 water pressure lines and they don't want you to twist because any particle in there could leave an un-glued section when twisted. I just gob on the glue on both sides of the connection and call it done.

[@ShannonSmith4u2]

Great video. It appears as if the cover isn't letting enough water in, too few holes?

[@SparkysGarage]

Curious is this job is located somewhere where freeze/thaw is a problem?

[@GCFD]

No, we're in NC.

[@Happy32153]

NC still has plenty of freezing, but this should still be okay. I have irrigation system above 3’ and it’s lasted years fine in NC.

[@Dcaulder]

I like how homie at 4:07 was just cutting the sidewalk with no water. And then wasn't even phased when the boss was walking up with a camera. This must be normal practice.

[@GCFD]

👍 We use water. I'm not sure why he didn't on that day.

[@chriskwakernaat2328]

i probably would have put on some elbows to redirect the flow left and right from that parking stop.

[@GCFD]

That's a good point. There was a low point where the parking lot and sidewalk met and we wanted to direct the water out into the parking lot further away from the sidewalk. It was not an elegant solution but it was highly effective.

[@alterego9576]

Well I'd never use that parking spot! 😄

[@GCFD]

👍

[@eddean7728]

You made removing sump pump very hard . It will breakdown over time

[@Landofmagic678]

That's a lot of water! My god that thing must have flooded..

[@GCFD]

It's crazy how builders don't anticipate drainage problems and try to design in some solutions. Having to come back like we did is definitely not an elegant solution, but it is a solution.

[@mfanwelikeit3760]

It’s so crazy to me that down pipes aren’t plumbed directly into stormwater drains over there. Where I live all down pipes are plumbed to tanks or to stormwater drains.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@TheWhitneyandRobShow]

Great video! Thanks for showing the set up in action in the rain. What is the part attached just above the pump, glued on at 6:25? Thank you.

[@GCFD]

That's called a check valve. It's like a one-way valve that doesn't let the water flow back into the basin once the pump stops.

[@davidstreling3690]

@@GCFD needed a small hole drilled below the check valve to prevent problem

[@billp3914]

Awesome work to bad the electricity wasn’t finished

[@GCFD]

Yea for sure!

[@billp3914]

@@GCFD My hats off for taking the rare initiative to follow up on jobs That speaks volumes of your companies reputation

[@JaredKroh]

Hey Shawn - Love these videos. I continue to learn a lot from you guys. One question about this sump setup - Do you think a sump basin with a perforated lid would be as effective handling surface water as a typical 12" catch basin? This would allow me to skip a catch basin altogether in my system and just have surface water go directly into the sump setup. You guys should think about a merch store selling your t-shirts. I would love to show some support and appreciation.

[@GCFD]

Yes I think you'd be fine doing that. The sump basin acts as a catch basin when you place it at a low point with a perforated lid. I haven't thought about merch. I don't know anything about it.

[@scrunchiiface]

@@GCFD I want a t-shirt that says "FULL BUBBLE!".

[@Ali-7676]

I really like your videos. Ive noticed that one some jobs you put gravel around the sump basin, yet not on others. I was wondering what the rationale was behind that.

[@GCFD]

If you have sub-surface water that you're trying to collect you want to use gravel in a perforated basin. In this project we had mainly gutter water and no surface water running in from elsewhere so we went with solid basins and no gravel. We did go with perforated lids in the low areas.

[@Ali-7676]

@@GCFD Ah I see. Thank you for clearing that up.

[@taylordougherty292]

I was curious when it comes to the perforated catch buckets can any type of soil be compacted on the outside? Wasn't sure if clay would clog the system

[@GCFD]

When we use a perforated catch basin we surround it with several inches of gravel to help keep things flowing.

[@joepacheco7979]

NICE!! I hope they own that stall. Lawsuit?

[@Slugbunny]

Those pumps were sorely needed alright. The electricity bill is a small price to pay for not flooding the yard and house.

[@amirmoshfeghi29]

Great video, what brand of pump you use and recommend?

[@ocsrc]

Oh, living there, next to a rail yard must be hell.

[@bigfootandbananaman4746]

I live right where a very busy interstate goes over a busy highway with loud trucks going by all day and night and I got used to it within a couple days. Now it's weird if I'm somewhere where there isn't constant background noise.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@mihilist]

Is there a reason/benefit to not using the PVC gutter downspout adapters that have the square gutter connector? Looking to do some DIY runs. Thanks in advance!

[@GCFD]

I don't like using adapters because they close off access to the system. With the downspout in the coupling there is enough room to fit a jetter hose in there to clean things out. The adapters do look better but I don't use them. 👍

[@petermenningen338]

Where are you located, My guess is in the warm zone where there is no permeant winter frost line.

[@GCFD]

We are in NC. No real frost line here.

[@karlbrolin869]

Well you guys work and install shit totalt diffrent than we here in sweden

[@GCFD]

Total shit? The system has been working very well since we installed it. The property manager has been pleased.

[@jeepindave5464]

@@GCFD i believe he means "you all install stuff totally different" not calling the system shit just different procedure then in Sweden

[@GCFD]

@@jeepindave5464 ahh I see what you mean!!

[@AlfioS]

@GWS Silent Care to share a video of the way things are done in Sweden? Thanks

[@Malandrin]

after watching you saw the sidewalk, I was wondering if you haven't thought of using a horizontal drilling thing (cant remember what they are called 😂)to set the tubes without having to open a whole trench, that uses hydraulics to move the tubes ? I don't know if you have many jobs where you need to cut open sidewalks or concrete driveways, just an idea 😄

[@GCFD]

Yes that's a great idea!

[@Junior-zf5ed]

As a Fire Inspector I would have a field day with those extension cords

[@GCFD]

How so? They were temporary, brand new, 20amp, lighted. What did I do wrong that i could have improved upon? Thanks!

[@markstanton2926]

It's a solution you're right, but it ain't glamorous. Just a suggestion for future you might want to consider a high level overflow between the pump sets, in case one set or more fails. Now if you do that in a wrapped French drain laid flat you can kill two birds with one stone and dewater the courtyard too. Good luck

[@GCFD]

Thank you for the great comments! This particular courtyard no one ever visits so it didn't warrant the glamorous solution. The property manager needed it to be effective and we got it done. It's been working well so far. Keep up the comments Mark!

[@funnycatvideos5490]

@@GCFD there is literally a brick wall damn causing the whole problem smh.

[@funnycatvideos5490]

6 inch pvc every six feet in brick wall done.

[@lowejoshua]

Hi, I was wondering what tool the guy at 3:48 is using? It appears to be cutting roots to help dig the trench better?

[@GCFD]

That's a dewalt 20v sawzall with a green limb blade on it. We were trying to get through those crape myrtle roots!

[@ITUMBLE4U]

Thanks for sharing video of your work. Can you give a rough estimate of this jobs' price? Thanks again.

[@malcolmbennett530]

I thought you would have cut those 3 pipes at the kerb to make it look nicer and prevent them from being damaged.

[@GCFD]

With the parking lot curb there we left them protruding. We also wanted to make it obvious where the water was coming from since this is a less-than-ideal discharge point.

[@celuldor]

Is the reson you piped all three pumps all the way to the curve due to redundancy or capacity? I was thinking it would be more cost effective and less pipe to go into one before going to the curb. I am no expert, just a curious IT tech 😊

[@GCFD]

Yes I took them all to the curb because it was the best possible way to do things. I thought about the issues you mentioned, but I wanted the system to work as best it could. Thanks for commenting!

[@celuldor]

@@GCFD Yeah sometimes cost effective is not the right way, its the same thing in networking :) As you more or less have redundancy now, with not single point of failure.

[@johnkim1656]

My backyard is lower than the street. I want to pump water uphill to the street (10 inch rise over 50 ft) Is it ok if the pump piping is pitched uphill? Worried about water trapping in the pipe and freezing?

[@GCFD]

Yes going uphill is why a pump is required. The freezing thing is an issue.