Sump Pump frozen

turbomangt

I have my PDV pipeing going underground to the back of my yard, been there for 20 years, never had this happen, yesterday I heard a hum noise in the basement, turns out the pump was trying to pump and the outside PCV was froze, (we just dipped down to zero * recently ) so I used warm water outside to melt the ice, cut a TEE in the outside PCV and connected a above ground hose to the back yard, and today pump was stuck again, due to ice outside. any idea how to solve this issue?

joecaption

Hope you mean PVC not PDV.
Might be a good idea to go back and add your location for some better suggestions.
Record cold temp. and it's freezing, hmm
Is it run below ground?
Is there a hole drilled in the pipe where it comes out of the foundation so there's not a vapor lock cause water to stay in the line when the pump shuts off?

turbomangt

Yes,pcv plastic tube pipe. 1 1/2" Live in Chicago
it comes out of the house, elbows underground, and runs to a sewer pit and empties there. I made a tee where it comes out fo the house, and ran a flexible plastic hose out to the yard, thinking it would remedy. still froze pump won't run, no sure what to do now

jagans

Poly Vinyl Chloride

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turbomangt

Put it where? in the sump pump pit? or?????

oh'mike

Turbo---Post a picture----the out side pipe should 'free fall' into a larger pipe---rather like a sink faucet dumping into a sink---

Outside piping must never be able to plug up---always needs to be able to 'over flow the sink' and make it to the earth.

That's under your new deck isn't it? I'm home today doing paper work---I'll drop over if you want!

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wrongdave

Hey Turbo, this may not apply to your situation but I would consider just turning it off or raising the level of the float switch to see if you even need the sump pump in these conditions. I live about 50 Miles north of Chicago and know the weather we've had recently, and there should not be much need for sump pumps in these conditions for most homes. Obviously you have enough water in yours to set it off, but it may be that the normal ground levels are just below your basement floor level and you are pumping water you don't need to. Then again, you may have a deep basement built in a swamp and the normal water levels require a sump pump all the time.

Of course, if you shut it off, make sure you monitor it and have a plan should the water come up. And turn it back on when next week's thaw sets in.

I've also heard of people using those de-icing cables used on roofs/gutters/downspouts. But that depends on how your discharge lines are run and exactly where it is freezing.

turbomangt

MIKE, I took off the smaller flex hose (which by the way was completely iced up) bought that larger diameter drain hose, attached it to outside pipe, seems all good now, having the larger hose I think is key, thanks a bunch for calling also, your the best!!!

oh'mike

To other members with sumps in freezing climates----

A free fall drain is what is safest---the sump discharge dropping into a much larger pipe---with an air space--so if the big pipe freezes the discharge can overflow harmlessly to the ground

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turbomangt

This is why MIke is the SUPER MOD!!!!!!!!

jackpine

Do what Mike says. I would grab a bail of straw and put over the lines to keep it from freezing, then fix it when it warms up.