DIY guideSump pump

Check where the sump pump empties and carry the water away

Follow the sump pump's pipe outside, make sure it empties well away from the house, and keep its end from freezing or clogging.

6 steps

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Find where the pump's pipe leaves the basement, then find its end outside.
Pour water into the pit to start the pump, and watch where the water goes outside. It should run away from the house, not back toward it.
Pull leaves, grass and snow out of the pipe's end and away from the front of it.
Fit an extension or a splash block so the water lands well away from the wall, on ground that slopes away.
In winter, keep the end clear of snow and ice, and keep the extension sloping downhill so no water sits in it.
The end is frozen, the line runs underground and backs up, or water pools by the wall: ask Handyman for a plumber. Never block the pipe.

Handyman says: Frozen or buried? I'll find a plumber.

Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.