How to Unseal and Reseal Your Ground Water Sump Pit

Your ground water sump pit is sealed airtight as part of the radon mitigation process. This is not meant to keep you from accessing the pit or sump pump. Watch this video to see how to unseal and reseal your ground water sump pit.

[@gratefulliving5283]

Thanks! Clear and to the point.

[@chicagopapi6152]

Excellent how to video, thank you, I learned a whole lot!!! Now I truly know exactly what to do!!! 🤠

[@a.m.m.4592]

Super helpful video!

[@mariosifuentes5994]

If is sealed tight wouldn’t need a vent? Thanks.

[@Darkagent69]

Where is this exact sump cover what is it called

[@FridayNightArcade]

Special thanks to Lowell from Wings for the voiceover

[@obadboystanley]

Hi what kind of caulk/sealer did you use? My lids bolts are corroded and some of the bolt threads broke into the basins bolt holes. The basement is smelling pretty bad. Will this method make it air tight again? Thank you

[@z960849]

Make sure you get 100% silicon

[@jeffsstuff6575]

Is this for all sump basins or only those with radon issues? I'm in Michigan, new 2020 construction. I'm preparing to upgrade my current sump pump and it is not caulked/sealed. It does have rubber seals around pipes but it's not air tight.

[@tallskinnygeek]

The air tight seal is necessary for radon mitigation. If you just have a sump pump, you can leave it open, or place a suitable cover above the pit without sealing. In my area, older homes usually have it open, and new homes often have a wooden panel with hinges over it.

[@scrappy93]

I just checked my pump and it's definitely not sealed. I have 3 holes. One for pumping water out, one for hvac drainage, and one for the wires. None sealed and how I got a snake in my basement.

[@lukexu6289]

Hi, I saw the video and I think it is useful. May I ask how can I buy the materials you use, like the sump cover.

[@scrappy93]

Home depot, lowes, amazon.

[@christinaducharmr8294]

I am adjusting ¹and I am adjusting to that that

[@Flamadiddle2]

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for. Seems the bozo that recently installed the battery backup pump had no clue and did not reseal or fasten the lid. I have a large cutout around my pvc pipe so silicone will not work in that area. For now, I just used saran wrap to cover that area. There's actually a good deal of airflow being pulled into sump pit. I can hear it whistling through the crack in lid that i did not silicone yet. Is that normal? btw, you guys installed this system long ago. :)

[@gratefulliving5283]

I have similar issue re large cutout around pipe. I laid a 1/4" thick sheet of rubber with pipe-size hole on top of pit lid (which is flat, smooth plastic) and then caulked around the pipe and around the edges of the rubber sheet (as well as around the pit lid/floor joint of course). I hope that it's doing some good and that such an idea might be of help to you.

[@glasser2819]

you guys need to vent the pit... it's not a vaccum pump, air-behind-water - Add an air one-way check-valve to allow air in but not out.... problem solved

[@gaganjoshi9168]

Is there a need to vent the sump pump pit ? I see you sealed the pit but there is no vent.

[@supobostarman]

Wouldn't venting defeat the entire purpose of the silly radon mitigation?

[@sj7601]

Usually a mitigation system has a pvc pipe in the pit, which has a fan to suck the air outside.. along with the sealed cover.

[@whdbnrm3023]

@@supobostarman not at all, it makes the silly nonsense look even more impressive

[@NatAstley]

Pl let me know the chemical or generic name of Caulk . I do not know whether it it available in India .We have a painted metal sump cover and there are gaps. I want to fill those gaps .

[@Sobeman81]

Any 100% silicone caulk should work well. Make sure after application, you leave it undisturbed for the specified amount of time to cure correctly.

[@NatAstley]

Thanks . Let me try if it is available in India and if so it's brand name . Hope once cured it will remain strong and after sometime remove it by cutting it with blade as shown in the video . Seal strongly and unseal as seen in the video is the reason why I got attracted .

[@jacksonsettlemire]

gloves homie....

[@johntrussell7228]

So by sealing the pit, does that impact the pump function at all? Wouldn't it create a huge vacuum when the pump runs and pushes the water out?

[@jaxkewl]

Probably not because there’s the drainage tubes that feed the sump.

[@EMTdrummer]

You are exactly right, correct installation would include a second pipe going to the vent stack for the home...

[@fakeusa]

@@EMTdrummer wrong!

[@mikewolff5091]

If it’s a regular sump pit , your wrong ! But a grey water pit or one with radon mitigation then yes you need a vent

[@Xoletta]

Is that the best you can come up with? That's a lot of work for something you need to open and close more than a few times...

[@BlackHawkPSU]

You would think some kind split lid with a hinge and a air tight gasket could be made that would allow one to access the pit without having to go through all of that every time the pump needed to be checked on.

[@captain543]

Only thing missing here is you really should have another pipe that vents the pump to the exterior.

[@whdbnrm3023]

why ?

[@duanewerley4058]

Where can i purchase that same replacement sump cover used in the video?

[@ThePilotguy72]

I just bought one from amazon for mine ... Lowes or Home Depot has a variety as well, but I wanted a solid one since my pit is empty.

[@glasser2819]

seal air tight without an air-vent... what is that a vacuum pump ?? "Air-behind-watet" wins

[@whdbnrm3023]

Is the Radon nonsense still being talked about or has that fad died out ?