Where do I install a sump pump pit in my basement?

Question

The floor drain in my basement doesn't seem to be working properly, and i believe it is due to my uncle raising his field tiles in his surrounding farm fields. During hard rains water appears to come back up the drain line, into my basement. Should i place the pit right over the drain? will this cause more problems?

Answer 1

Every sump crock I've ever installed was in one of the corners of the basement. Sometimes in opposite corners in very swampy areas. You can buy the plastic crock liners at Fleet & Farm stores or similar. These go in the hole to keep the dirt out.

Normally we would trench out the perimeter of the inside of the basement, just wide enough to place new drain tile beside the footing of the foundation, and pitch it down to the new crock.

If you're doing it yourself I suppose you could get away with putting the crock in the desired corner and just cutting one lateral trench from the floor drain. I've never seen a crock in the middle of the basement and am not sure if this is a good idea. I think that you wouldn't want all that water under your floor. That's why it should be trenched at the inside perimeter.

Answer 2

Install in the corner of the basement that has the highest level of earth against the outside of the foundation.