Sump Discharge Line Depth

Green_Center · Jun 9, 2005

A local contractor buried the sump discharge line about a foot deep. I thought these had to be much deeper (Northern Indiana) He used solid 4 inch corrugated to a popup.

When I did my own line I buried 30 inches and backfilled with natrual stone. Did I do too much work? Can my friend expect any problems?

Thanks...

ByronBob · Jun 9, 2005

What is your concern with it being a foot deep? Is it freezing or the leaching ability? The answer is dependent on what your worried about?

Green_Center · Jun 9, 2005

My concern is freezing.

ByronBob · Jun 9, 2005

If the water was stagnant in the line for a long time it would be a problem. But this drains out at the end right to daylight?
You'd need a few weeks of really cold weather to even get close to a foot of frost.
Really this shouldn't be an issue

Green_Center · Jun 9, 2005

Thanks for the reply. At the end of the tile it has a popup, the end of the pipe is not to daylight.

Freds · Jun 9, 2005

When I built my business I noticed the sewer line was only about a foot below grade where it came out the foundation and I know it isn't below the frost line before it goes into the septic.
I just figured these kinds of lines aren't constantly filled with water and capped at both ends, so maybe the plumber knew what he was doing and frost wasn't a concern. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
That's my theory anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

BigEddy · Jun 13, 2005

Not sure what a pop up is but any place that will hold water and which is less than the frost depth, is likely to freeze at some time. My neighbours daylight drain comes to the surface about 20' from his house, after starting about 4' underground. Every winter it would freeze up right where it exited the ground, then backup and get his basement wet. We changed it so that the final 2' of pipe sloped more, then "dropped" off 4" where it exited, and we have had no issues since.

Frost depth is 36" here. Mine is buried 4' down for 150' before it drops 6" at the exit in the side of the ditch. I don't think you did too much work.

Now my septic exits the house about 12" down, straight into the tank. Water doesn't sit in that line and is usually "room" temperature or warmer so it doesn't worry me. Never had that freeze.

Donman · Jun 13, 2005

<font color="blue"> He used solid 4 inch corrugated to a popup.
</font>

Why solid pipe? Wouldn't perforated pipe be better? Does the pop up release water every time the sump pumps? Then an inch and a half pipe would do the same thing - only freeze faster.