outside perimiter drain

[MasterPlumbersKeymaster]

What is the proper way to install an out side perimiter drain around a basement. Do I have to have a sump pump or can I just make a french drain. The land is high and dry but I have glass sliding doors in the basement, which is 48″ in the ground with a ramp leading to the door. I want make sure I won”t have a water problem.

[fourth yearParticipant]

If the ranp slopes down to the door, then you had better use a sump pump. In that case, a French drain would not be able to handle the water running down the ramp in a rainstorm.

[SylvanLMPParticipant]

Rather then rely on a mechanical device like a sump pump which can fail when needed most.
I would rather opt for a gravity system with small catch basins set away from this 48″ opening.

By having a REAL plumber (licensed) figure out your actual drainage needs he/she can design a great non mechanical system using a “trench drain” like I use in large parking lots above the building entrances.

Could you imagine if every time we need a drain some helper suggested a sump pump? Wow in case of a black out then what?

By the use of a trench drain like a J. R. Smith Fig 2580 you can redirect the storm water to either a large dry well Or a lower point where this storm water will percolate into the soil far enough away on your property line not be cause a problem.

Depending on the depth of your main sewer or combination sewer you may even be able to let the trench drain discharge legally BY Gravity into your drainage system.

Remember the use of pumps is not really in your best interests as

1- All fresh water contains oxygen and there goes any ferrous parts of your pump.

2- Buying a “pump” is like going to a home center and saying “give me a boiler”

Most bonifide plumbers would measure the actual property line that will require drainage and calculate the GPM converted from sq. ft to GPM using a 10 year frequency to get an average inch rate like we do when sizing roof leaders.

Another problem with “get a pump” is where is this pump going to pump the water if this drainage system is already flowing to capacity?

By having a gravity system and the properly sized on site catch basins you have “controlled flow” which will not cause undo stress on the system.

Hey you could always install a zillion horse power pump with back up generators and lead and lag capabilities and high water alarms and of course a silt catcher to protect the bronze impeller from fouling and install high water alarms.

Think seriously about hiring a licensed drain guy and CHECK for journeymen licenses for your protection. there are all kinds of options BUT I wouldnt consider a “pump” as one not in this case.

[SylvanLMPParticipant]

By the way I am not against “pumps” I just dont like making plumbing more complex then necessary as far as relying on forcing water from one place to another.
http://www.masterplumbers.com/plumbing/plumbviews/pump.html

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