Is Sump Pump Replacement A DIY Job?
If you’ve ever dealt with a basement that is knee-deep in water after a hard rain, you know all too well just how inconvenient and messy it is, not to mention how much damage it can do to your home and your possessions. As a result, you may have had a sump pump installed years ago that was working fine until recently. Now that it’s time for a sump pump replacement, you’re probably thinking this may be a great DIY project you can do yourself and save lots of money along the way. However, is a sump pump replacement really an ideal DIY project, or should you hire a Los Angeles professional plumber to do the job?
Before you decide to replace your sump pump yourself, our team here at Boss Plumbing has some suggestions you should keep in mind.
Can You Replace a Sump Pump Yourself?
Since you are eager to prevent sewer backups in your basement and make sure you are not having to spend your money on sewer cleaning services due to an overflowing sump pump that is making an already big mess even worse, you could be thinking about taking a shot at replacing your sump pump yourself.
If so, keep in mind that while our team here at Boss Plumbing realizes Los Angeles homeowners may be able to successfully replace a sump pump on their own, chances are these DIY attempts will only make a bad situation worse. In fact, when we are called out to do a sump pump replacement in a typical Los Angeles home, we often find out that a homeowner had tried various things along the way in an effort to repair or replace their sump pump.
Due to the many things that could go wrong during a sump pump replacement, it is usually best to leave this plumbing task to professionals. If you do decide to tackle a replacement job on your own, only do so if you have an extensive background in plumbing and electrical work.
How Many Hours Does it Take to Replace a Sump Pump?
When you’ve got a basement drain that’s clogged and want to get your home’s sump pump replaced as fast as possible, you will be glad to know that a replacement sump pump can be installed and in operation in about an hour or so in most cases. However, this is assuming that the person doing the replacement is skilled in plumbing and electrical repairs. If this does not sound like you, what is an easy plumbing repair job for one of our Boss Plumbing professionals may turn into a much more complicated and expensive DIY project than you ever thought possible.
Step-by-Step Sump Pump Replacement
Needless to say, knowing how a sump pump works is crucial to getting the job done right the first time. To help you with this, our Boss Plumbing team has the following step-by-step sump pump replacement guide ready for you before tackling this DIY project.
1. Gather Your Tools and Supplies
First, gather together the necessary tools and supplies for your sump pump replacement. These will include:
- a drill with a 3/16″ bit
- an adjustable pipe wrench and pliers
- hacksaw
- PVC cement and primer
- a rubber coupling boot
- check valve
- about 10 feet of 1.5″ Schedule 40 PVC pipe
Since the job will likely be messy, also have on hand some rags, towels, and a Shop-Vac to get rid of any excess water.
2. Disconnect the Power
Next, disconnect the power and the sump pump’s check valve. Once this is done, remove the old pump and set it off to the side while you clean out the pit. You’re now ready to attach the check valve to the discharge pipe by using the primer and PVC cement. Don’t forget to measure the pit’s depth and diameter to ensure the pump’s float switch won’t get caught up in the pit and become damaged.
3. Thread the Adapter to the PVC Pipe
Next up is threading the adapter to the PVC pipe. Use your wrench to tighten it, but don’t overtighten it or it will get damaged. After testing the pump and float, drill your weep hole, cut your PVC pipe, and drop the sump pump into the pit. After doing so, you can attach the discharge pipe to the check valve with PVC cement.
4. Plug Everything In
Now you are ready to plug everything in and see if the sump pump works as expected. Along with having plenty of water in the pit, be sure water properly passes through the check valve and that the valve completely closes once the pump turns off.
Do Plumbers Replace Sump Pumps?
If you’ve read through the various steps to installing a sump pump and think this is a job you’re not eager to tackle on your own, you’ll be glad to know that our Boss Plumbing team can install and replace sump pumps as part of our extensive array of residential plumbing services we offer to homes here in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Also keep in mind that in addition to our sump pump services, we also offer many related services such as backflow prevention, drain cleaning, and complex services such as sewer pipe repair and sewer line replacement when necessary.
Trust Boss Plumbing for Your Sump Pump Services
Whether you are getting a sump pump installed in your basement for the first time or are getting an existing one replaced, always trust us here at Boss Plumbing for these and other plumbing services.
Known throughout Los Angeles and elsewhere for our honesty, fantastic customer service that often includes same-day service, and high-quality work, be assured that you can’t go wrong by contacting us today for your sump pump replacement. Rather than only hope you are getting professional plumbers who fully understand sump pumps, call us today and put your mind at ease by knowing our experienced plumbers will soon be on the job.
