On Mar 24, 7:53*am, wrote:
I need to install a sump *pump in my crawl space to get rid of water
if and when. *My need has magnified this year because of the large
amount of snow melt and unusually high rain fall in this Delaware
area.

I am lead *to believe that I can make a pit in a low spot *in order to
draw in the water and then use a sump pump to direct the water
outside. *I plan to try to use a pre-fab plastic pit liner if I can
find one. *I *plan to add holes in the bottom of the liner if not
already there, and then use a submersible sump pump inside the liner
surrounded by crushed stone.

I want the thing to be automatic, so I don't have to mess with it. IE
run when there's water - not run (off) otherwise. * I notice many
pumps use an outside-the-pump float mechanism to provide the automatic
ness. *I don't want that. *I would like the pump to have an automatic
switch internal in the pump. * I see pumps advertised as automatic,
but I want to be sure they work that way. *Do they?
I guess I could buy one at Lowes and try it.

Duke

Actually, it sounds like you have it figured out. Don't mess with
pedestal-type pumps. Go with a good submersible in the 3/4 - 1 hp
range. We have had both the external and electronic switching and
both work well. Our particular pump is Basement Watchdog but there
are a lot of other good pumps like Grainger. the pump is the heart of
everything so a little more investment in power will be good. The
plastic sumps are available in most big-box stores or lumber yards.
In fact, our son retrofitted his basement using a large Rubbermaid
storage tub because he wanted plenty of room to install a good backup
pump. The plumbing is straight-forward PVC but make sure everything
from foundation-out has a slight slant to keep water from standing in
the pipe outside. If you have much of a rise from pump to foundation
exit, a backflow valve is good too.

Put the sump in a low spot, and if necessary cut rough channels to the
sump.

RonB