Question for the plumber on the site

[chrashley]

I have a new house. Bought it 3 months ago. Well it's new to me anyway...built in 1997. We have recently had a huge bought of rain come through and that along with the melting snow that we are coming off of has left the ground saturated. So of course I am finding drainage issues with my house now. I think I have a handle on most everything except for...

I can't find where the sump empties out to in the yard. I've searched high and low for it but to no avail. My pump is having issues sometimes keeping up and I'm almost wondering if it's because the end is clogged or buried somewhere. So does anyone have a good tip for how I should proceed. No need to tell me to hire a pro cause if I don't get something good here then that's what I'll have to do, no doubt.

Please, any help would be appreciated.

[t527ed]

hook an air compressor up to it and be vewy vewy quiet as you walk around outside.........:o

[ralphtheplumber]

Question #1 - are you sure that it empties into the yard? lots of them are hooked up to sewers. Sometimes the connection is out in the yard, so the inspector won't see it.

If you're looking for a not-too-deep pvc pipe, get a piece of rebar and push it into the ground around where you think it should be. Work perpendicular to the pipe, and push a hole every couple inches until you feel it. Then move down a couple feet and try again. Repeat until you get to the end.

You could also dump a bunch of food coloring into your sump, and then go outside and look for the red spot. Or, set your shop-vac to "blow" and hook it up the hose where the check valve should be.

You could also call the last guy and see if he knows.

[chrashley]

Question #1 - are you sure that it empties into the yard? lots of them are hooked up to sewers. Sometimes the connection is out in the yard, so the inspector won't see it.

If you're looking for a not-too-deep pvc pipe, get a piece of rebar and push it into the ground around where you think it should be. Work perpendicular to the pipe, and push a hole every couple inches until you feel it. Then move down a couple feet and try again. Repeat until you get to the end.

You could also dump a bunch of food coloring into your sump, and then go outside and look for the red spot. Or, set your shop-vac to "blow" and hook it up the hose where the check valve should be.

You could also call the last guy and see if he knows.

No, I'm not sure that it empties into the yard. Actually, now I'm pretty sure that it does go to the sewer. I think I have a clog somehow. Not too sure on the details yet but I'll keep ya posted. I do know it's gonna be alot of digging and trenching!! yay!!!

[ryan_the_furnace_guy]

You could also dump a bunch of food coloring into your sump, and then go outside and look for the red spot
You will know you used too much food coloring when strange brightly-red colored squirrels start to appear around your home LOL:D

[spotts]

I'd hire a pro before I got out the shovel, and dug a big aszed hole that you dont need, and your wife gets pissed.

[Workhorse]

Take the sump discharge hose and plug it up with wet paper, then take some compressed air and blow out the line. This way you'll have something to knock the blockage through. If it goes to the yard you'll see the blow out. If it goes to the sewer it will push it through to the sewer. Either way, get some drain opener afterwards and run it through to clear any muck out of the line.

[Lurch77]

You might have done this already, but you didn't mention it, so I will. Did you pull the pump out of the sump hole and check it over? We have one at work for the loading dock. Every now and then we have to pull the pump and take off the impeller cover and screens. They get so clogged up with junk that the pump can't suck the water through.

[key]

You will know you used too much food coloring when strange brightly-red colored squirrels start to appear around your home LOL:D

Didn't you used to train squirrels to balance fans?...

[ryan_the_furnace_guy]

Didn't you used to train squirrels to balance fans?...
As a matter-of-fact, yes, I did. Good memory. I keep a diagnostic squirrel in my meter pouch for those occasions. That is why I was concerned about poisoning the squirrels if he uses the food coloring. I am a squirrel advocate. Well, the little buddies can't speak for themselves now can they? Did you know that January is 'Squirrel Awareness Month'?:)

I think I may need a new diagnostic squirrel. He hasn't been performing well lately. May have been that fall he took in my toolbag off of a third story roof. Hmm...now you've got me thinking...

[Collin]

I have 6 Journeymen plumbers working for me but I would call Roto Rooter and tell them to bring a camera.;)

[The Penguin]

Didn't you used to train squirrels to balance fans?...

this is more fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDaQN42072A

[edward301]

What I would do is take a water hose, and attach (can not remember name)
the rubber drain uncloger that swells up when water pressure is applied,
put in drain pipe let water run for a while and see if this unstops your
pipe.

If it does not, you may need to rent a electric snake and run down the
pipe.

[timebuilder]

No, I'm not sure that it empties into the yard. Actually, now I'm pretty sure that it does go to the sewer. I think I have a clog somehow. Not too sure on the details yet but I'll keep ya posted. I do know it's gonna be alot of digging and trenching!! yay!!!

Run a snake through it.