In article , M. Laymon wrote:
We have a 10 year old house which we bought 6 years ago. We have not
had any problems with the sump pump system until last week. On
Wednesday, my wife went down into the basement and found that even
though the sump pump was running, the water was not being pulled out
of the sump. The water had backed up in the little trench around the
edge of the basement and had overflowed. The 10 X 10 ft. area rug we
keep the exercise equipment on had turned into a large sponge.
[snip]
I think the problem is that the regular drain pipe is too small and/or
is frozen. The pipe from the sump pump to the wall is 1 inch ID PVC.

Yep, too small. Should be 1.5" or larger.

Where it goes through the wall to go outside, it connects to a
3/4 inch ID black plastic, somewhat like a big stiff garden hose.

Way too small.

This pipe runs about 50 feet, where it empties into the storm sewer.
Unfortunately, it protrudes about 2 feet into the catch basin. I
think this is where it freezes.

I agree. The pipe should be cut shorter so that there is an air gap allowing
water to drain from the pipe. Sticking out into the catch basin like that,
water can't drain from it after the pump shuts off, and it sits there and
freezes.

[snip]

I think the problem is exacerbated by the small size of the pipe.
I besides being inherently too small, I also am inclined to think it
makes it more susceptible to freezing.

Correct.


--
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?