Sump Pump Discharge Lines

Example of a discharge line tied into main sewer line.

Many homeowners underestimate the importance of the configuration of the discharge line. The discharge line is what leads the water from the sump basin out of the home, and can have a direct effect on the pumping efficiency of your home's waterproofing system. Here are some things you want to be aware of:

1. Long distances. The farther the water has to travel through a discharge line, the harder your pump has to work in order to get it out of your home. This can allow water to build up in your perimeter drain tile, and may cause premature pump failure.
2. Too many fittings. If your path out of the home isn't the simplest one, and your discharge line is curved and routed every which way, you may be adding unneeded stress to your pump. Reduce the amount of turns in your discharge line, and make its route outside as short and simple as possible.
3. Beware tying into sewer lines. In some areas, this is completely disallowed. In others, you must have a secondary overflow valve and line exiting the home onto your yard to prevent catastrophic failure in the event of a storm backup. Always abide by city code.
4. Prevent winter freezing. In these cold, bitter Detroit winters, it's important to make sure the discharge line isn't freezing outside and block up your waterproofing system. We recommend adding a rubber coupling a few feet out from the home so the line can be shortened during the freezing winter months.

Learn more at http://www.everdrymichigan.com.

Keep An Eye On Foundation Cracks

Foundation cracks can occur more and more frequently as your home's foundation ages, but can also occur relatively early on in the life of a foundation.

Cracking in the foundation can occur based on a variety of circumstances, whether it be improper construction, excess soil moisture during construction, or high soil pressure due to regular, heavy water saturation.

What we do about foundation cracks and when is critical. If left for too long, small issues can become larger structural issues that become more costly and difficult to fix. So what can you do? First, perform a crack inspection. You may also have a professional contractor perform a free basement inspection. Inspect the foundation from both the inside and outside of the home, the latter being especially useful in the case of a drywalled interior.

Hairline cracking is common and nothing to be too alarmed about––however, there are still recommended precautions you should take. First, reduce the possibility of moisture seeping through the crack by applying masonry caulk along the cracked area. If the foundation shifts and the crack becomes larger, consult a foundation professional. We also recommend reaching out to a professional if water seepages is too powerful for the caulk and begins to make its way through.

For more information about free foundation repair inspections in the Detroit and S.E. Michigan area, click here!