by James Williams
Sump pumps are extremely useful pieces of equipment for areas that experience frequent flooding and rain. They drain water and prevent the basement of your houses from getting flooded. However, they are not perfect, and during operation can experience certain issues that can hinder them.
To prevent these hindrances, some common accessories are installed with the sump pump. One of these is the weep or relief hole. This article will detail what a weep hole is and also serve as a DIY guide on sump pump weep hole installation.
Contents
Weep holes are alternatively known as relief holes. They are a hole drilled into the PVC pipe of a sump pump. This hole is often made using an electric drill and is integral to the smooth operation of your sump pump.
As mentioned above, a weep hole ensures the smooth operation of the pump. So you might ask, how does a hole in the PVC pipe help? To understand that, we need to look at a common problem a sump pump can suffer from.
When a sump pump operates, air bubbles can build up inside the pipes. This air bubble can cause the flow of water to stop or get stuck. So your pump will be trying to pump out water but fail. This is known as an airlock.
An airlock can cause the pump to be damaged and results in you either paying for massive repair costs or getting a new sump pump entirely. So if airlocks are not taken care of, the life of your sump pump will dramatically decrease.
A weep hole prevents the build-up of this air bubble and prevents the flow of water from being disrupted. Weep holes are installed to ensure that airlocks do not take place, so they help increase the lifespan of your sump pumps. This also saves you from repair costs.
Just drilling a hole in your pipe won't do. Weep holes are drilled in a very select location to ensure that airlocks don't happen, and that backflow is minimized. Let us look at the location of the installation first.
Weep holes are located between the discharge pipe and check valve. They are installed below the water line so to prevent the build-up of air bubbles inside the chamber. Generally, they are drilled 6 inches above the sump pump.
Now we'll look at how to properly install a weep hole on your sump pump.
You only need one piece of equipment for installing a weep or relief hole. An electric drill or power drill is required for drilling the hole. If you do not have any prior experience in using an electric drill, it is recommended to get some practice with it before attempting to drill a hole.
Since you need to make a proper-sized hole in the pipe for your weep hole, you need the right drill bit. Generally, a 3/16 inch drill bit ensures the best results and is widely used for installing a weep hole along with a 20 Volt electric drill.
Carefully follow the steps outlined below to install your sump pump weep hole:
Initial Preparation
First, you need to get your drill ready. Make sure the drill bit is properly connected, and the drill is connected to a power source. Turn it on to see if it is working or not.
You also need to drain and then turn off the sump pump. This will make it much easier to work with.
Removing the Sump Pump
Since the power is turned off, you can now remove the sump pump from the sump pit. Carefully disconnect the drain lines and then remove the sump pump.
Locate the Check Valve and Discharge Line
You will want to drill the hole in the area between the check valve and the discharge line. If your pump has a check valve installed in it, it is much easier to look for the check valve. After locating the check valve, mark the area 6 inches below the valve or in the middle between the discharge line and valve.
Begin Drilling
Once you've marked the area that you'll drill the hole in, carefully place the drill on the mark. Hold the drill at a 45-degree angle. Turn the drill on and begin drilling downwards until the weep hole is formed.
After drilling the hole, you can remove the drill and then turn it off.
Wiping the Drilled Area
With a brush or clean cloth, clean the area around the drilled hole thoroughly.
Reconnect the Sump Pump
Once you've done cleaning the area, you then need to reconnect the sump pump back into the sump pit. You also need to reattach the drain lines with the sump pump. Check the power cord connection of your pump, and then turn it on for a few minutes.
Testing the Sump Pump
After drilling the weep hole, you should check to see if the pump operates well or not. This can be done by taking a few buckets of water and running it through the pump. Pour the water into the sump pit, and then turn your sump pump on.
If the water is drained quickly without any interruption, this means the sump pump is working well, and you've successfully made a weep hole in your pump.
We hope that you found this DIY guide on sump pump weep hole installation helpful. If you're living in an area that experiences heavy rainfall, a sump pump becomes a must-have item. Properly installing a weep hole will save you a lot of trouble and money down the line as it ensures proper operation.
About James Williams
Hi, This is James from HomerDIY. I have great experience in writing about everything related to Pump and DIY tools. For the last few years, I am researching the different types of tools and sharing my opinion on this blog.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Popular Posts
Homer