outside stairwell drain

marzeis · 09-10-2008, 12:04 PM

Our outside basement stairwell has a floor drain that emptys into the city main sewer pipe. Flooding occurs when there is too much rain and the drain cannot handle it. The city sewer will backup and send sewage into my stairwell. It will get into the house. 10 inches in the past.

Can I tap off the drain pipe to the city sewer and then put a sump pump in my stairwell to take care of the rain, pumping it up 8 stairs to the yard?

The drain hole is small so I guess that it would have to be made large so that the pump could go in, or can the pump just sit at the bottom of the stairwell? I am concerned about uses a jack hammer since the stair well is made with brick walls and the force might camage them , 54 yrs old house.

thank you. mary

TazinCR · 09-10-2008, 02:35 PM

If I understand the question right you can put a check valve in and stop the back flow. If you put a sump pump pressure of the pump will open the valve and pump the water out. As far as cutting the hole do not jack hammer. Rent a concrete saw and cut it out. Hope this helps and I understood OK.

handy man88 · 09-10-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TazinCR

If I understand the question right you can put a check valve in and stop the back flow. If you put a sump pump pressure of the pump will open the valve and pump the water out. As far as cutting the hole do not jack hammer. Rent a concrete saw and cut it out. Hope this helps and I understood OK.

I don't think the sump pump can fight the pressure from an overwhelmed sewer system. The best bet is to pump the backflow elsewhere.

marzeis · 09-10-2008, 03:43 PM

Thank you TaxiCR and Handy man 88. My idea was to put a cap on the drain outflow pipe which connects to the city sewer pipe. And then try to install a sump pump and pump the water up the stairwell, which would be 8 stairs to the yard. The cement saw answers one question. Thank you. Hard for women to know this stuff, so I appreciate your advice. The stairwell is about 3 feet square and has tall brick walls. The drain is very close to the wall. But if the sump pump has to go in a hole, then I suppose that it could be cut larger. Thank you.

marzeis · 09-10-2008, 03:48 PM

I failed to mention that the city has put a check valve in, but when rain water goes down this stairwell drain it opens the check valve, since that is where the rainwater from this drain is connceted. For me it is a no win situation unless this water is deverted to elsewhere. Thank you.

handy man88 · 09-10-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marzeis

I failed to mention that the city has put a check valve in, but when rain water goes down this stairwell drain it opens the check valve, since that is where the rainwater from this drain is connceted. For me it is a no win situation unless this water is deverted to elsewhere. Thank you.

Good luck to you.

09-10-2008, 12:04 PM	#1
marzeis Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6	outside stairwell drain Our outside basement stairwell has a floor drain that emptys into the city main sewer pipe. Flooding occurs when there is too much rain and the drain cannot handle it. The city sewer will backup and send sewage into my stairwell. It will get into the house. 10 inches in the past. Can I tap off the drain pipe to the city sewer and then put a sump pump in my stairwell to take care of the rain, pumping it up 8 stairs to the yard? The drain hole is small so I guess that it would have to be made large so that the pump could go in, or can the pump just sit at the bottom of the stairwell? I am concerned about uses a jack hammer since the stair well is made with brick walls and the force might camage them , 54 yrs old house. thank you. mary

09-10-2008, 02:35 PM	#2
TazinCR Whatamess Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 423	outside stairwell drain If I understand the question right you can put a check valve in and stop the back flow. If you put a sump pump pressure of the pump will open the valve and pump the water out. As far as cutting the hole do not jack hammer. Rent a concrete saw and cut it out. Hope this helps and I understood OK. __________________ I may go home hungry, but not tired and hungry.

09-10-2008, 03:43 PM	#4
marzeis Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6	outside stairwell drain Thank you TaxiCR and Handy man 88. My idea was to put a cap on the drain outflow pipe which connects to the city sewer pipe. And then try to install a sump pump and pump the water up the stairwell, which would be 8 stairs to the yard. The cement saw answers one question. Thank you. Hard for women to know this stuff, so I appreciate your advice. The stairwell is about 3 feet square and has tall brick walls. The drain is very close to the wall. But if the sump pump has to go in a hole, then I suppose that it could be cut larger. Thank you.

09-10-2008, 03:48 PM	#5
marzeis Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 6	outside stairwell drain I failed to mention that the city has put a check valve in, but when rain water goes down this stairwell drain it opens the check valve, since that is where the rainwater from this drain is connceted. For me it is a no win situation unless this water is deverted to elsewhere. Thank you.

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outside stairwell drain