Answer: Although it may be legal in your region to connect your sump pump to the sewer line, in most of the United States it is illegal to connect your sump pump to your sewer line. When there is heavy rainfall, the sewage treatment plants can become overloaded.

Why can sump pump drain into sewer?

In most of the US, it is illegal to discharge groundwater from your sump pump into the city sewer line. Theres a very good reason for this and its to avoid putting clean water into the lines that carry sewage and waste to treatment plants so as not to overwhelm them during rainy seasons.

Where should a sump pump drain to?

The discharge point should be at least 10 feet away from your foundation, but 20 feet is better. Otherwise, the water will reabsorb into the soil, and your pump will need to remove it again. A constant flow of water damages your foundation, contributes to erosion, and quickly wears out your sump pump.

Do floor drains go to sump pump?

Many basement floor drains tie directly to the homes sewer system, but in some communities, local building codes require floor drains to run to a sump pit, where a pump lifts the water to the exterior surface of the house.

Do storm drains go to sewer?

The storm system, completely separate from the sanitary sewer, is there to prevent flooding and is meant for rainwater and groundwater only. The drains you see on streets and parking lots are connected to the storm sewer system, which drains directly to the nearest stream or body of water.

How deep should I bury my sump pump line?

Most sump pumps and basins should be installed 3 feet deep but the exact depth depends on your local soil conditions and the amount of floodwater you expect to receive. Deeper pits can collect more water but will require a more powerful pump to drain all the water before overflowing the pit.

What do sump pumps drain into?

When water fills the sump basin in your basement, the sump pump drain line is what gets it out. As water fills the basin—usually an 18-inch diameter pit excavated into the basement floor—a float switch actuates the pump and water is discharged through the sump pump drain line.

Why does my floor drain keep backing up?

When water backs up out of a floor drain, it usually means there is a clog in the drain line, not the floor drain itself. When there is a clog in the main building drain and water is run down a drain from an upper fixture, water will back up in the drain line until it finds somewhere else to come out.

Why does my basement smell like a sewer?

A strong sewer smell coming from your basement is most often caused from a dried out floor drain, a bad ejector pit seal, improperly vented appliances or fixtures, or even a damaged sewer line. Floor Drains – Rarely-used floor drains in your basement are typically the source of the sewer stench.

Can rain water go into sewer?

Surface water drainage occurs when rainwater falls on a property and drains away. Most rainwater falling on properties drains into public sewers owned by the ten water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. Surface water drainage occurs when rainwater from your property drains into the sewer.

What will you do if you drop your phone or key down a storm drain?

If you drop your keys in the storm drain and you want to get them back, you should reach out to your local sewer department right away. The sewer department wants to help people retrieve their personal possessions because it helps them prevent blockages in the system and keep things moving the way they should.

How long can a sump pump drain line be?

Using a properly sized pipe for discharge will ensure that the sump pump will perform as the manufacturer intended. Installing discharge pipe of a larger size is not a huge problem and is in fact recommended for longer runs of pipe, typically 20 feet or more.

How do you bury a sump pump drain line?

Dig a trench for the sump pump drain line that is at least 2 feet wide and the depth of the frost line in your area, plus an additional 2 feet. For example, if the frost line in your area is 12 inches, dig the trench 3 feet deep. Remove the sod in pieces and place to the side so it can be re-used to cover the trench.

Do sump pumps need maintenance?

Water from under or around your home drains into a sump pump pit, and is then pumped out of your home and away from the foundation. As with any other system or appliance you may have in your home, a sump pump needs regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly.

Should I avoid buying a house with a sump pump?

While you might think its best to avoid buying a house with a sump pump, the little mechanism in the basement floor does a big job. The pump sits in a small basin below the floor with pipes leading to the outside. When water seeps into the basement, it triggers the pumps float switch and activates its motor.

How do I keep my floor drain from backing up?

If you do not have a backwater valve, plugs with backflow devices can be installed in floor drains. These plugs have a ball or float that will stop water or sewage from backing up into a home while permitting water to flow into the drain. These plugs can be left in place year-round.

What to do if sewage backs up in a floor drain?

Fix Sewage Backup in Basement Floor Drains The acidity in Coca-Cola can help clear a sewage backup but may leave a residue itself. A drain snake is a great tool to unclog plumbing fixtures, but if you dont have one, you could use a hose or plunger to clear a clogged drain.

What do I do if my basement smells like sewer?

Solution: Dump around a gallon of clean water down the drain to reseal the pipe and keep the odor out of your basement (add a mild household cleaner to the water for a fresh scent). Note: This applies to rarely-used toilets, as well. If the water in a toilet bowl has dried up, simply flush the toilet again.

Why would your house smell like sewer?

There are several common reasons your home may smell like sewer gas. Some are serious, but many of them are easy to fix. Sewer odor comes from the breakdown of human waste and includes harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Small doses of these gases wont harm you, but chronic exposure can be toxic.

Can gutters drain into sewer?

Improperly connected gutters put clear water into the wastewater system. Discharging this water to the wastewater systems is illegal and needs to be addressed. Gutters and downspouts should drain onto your property or into the city stormwater system, not the wastewater system.

Should a downpipe go into a drain?

A rainwater downpipe is a pipe that is used to direct rainwater away from a building, typically from roof guttering to a drainage system. The discharge from a downpipe can be: Directly connected to a drain discharging into a soakaway. Directly connected to a drain discharging into a surface water sewer.