Skip to main content

Assemble and Install New Piping — Install New Pump and Reconnect Piping

Beginner

Part of project

How to Replace a Pedestal Sump Pump · Step 6 of 7

Helpful?

In this video

Prepare the new pipe assemblies for the pump. Using the old piping as a guide, cut and assemble the new PVC pipes and fittings. Apply Teflon tape to all male threaded fittings. For the incoming line, install a male adapter, a check valve, and the connecting pipe. For the outgoing line, install a T-fitting with a priming plug. Screw both assemblies tightly onto the new pump and connect them to the existing well pipe and pressure tank pipe.

Goal: Plumbing Pipes Installation

  • Dry fit all your pipes and fittings before gluing to ensure proper alignment and length.
  • Ensure all threaded connections are tight to prevent air leaks, which can cause the pump to lose its prime.

Used in this video

  • Pipe wrench (brand: N/A, Tool Type: Hand Tools, Power Source: Manual)Tightening the pipe connections.
626.5K views2.1K45 minutes
Apple Drains

181K subscribers

View Channel

FAQs

What are the most critical safety steps I need to take before starting to replace my pedestal sump pump?

Always disconnect power to the sump pump circuit at your home's breaker panel first to prevent electrical shock. Wear work gloves to protect your hands from potential sharp edges or debris in the sump pit, and use a tarp to contain spills around the work area. Ensure the work area is well-lit and you have clear access to the sump pit.

Do I need to buy all the specific tools and materials listed, like the K2 1/2 HP pump and a dedicated PVC pipe cutter?

While the listed items are recommended for quality and ease, equivalent tools and materials can often be substituted. A dedicated PVC pipe cutter like the Hayes PC2-64 makes clean, straight cuts essential for a leak-free seal, which is critical. Upgrading from a 1/3 HP to a 1/2 HP pump can provide increased pumping power for better flood protection.

How important is cleaning the sump pit, and what's the best way to ensure it's ready for the new pump?

Thoroughly cleaning the sump pit is crucial because accumulated silt, gravel, and debris can clog your new pump's intake and shorten its lifespan. After removing the old pump, use a shop vacuum to remove all remaining water and solids from the bottom of the pit. Ensure the pit is as clean as possible before installing the new pump.

What are the most common installation mistakes beginners make with pedestal sump pumps, especially regarding the piping and check valve?

A common mistake is improperly installing the check valve, which should be placed above the pump to prevent water from flowing back into the pit. Another error is not using Teflon tape on threaded connections or failing to make clean, straight cuts on PVC pipe, leading to leaks. Ensure all connections are secure but not overtightened.

Transcript
Hide

Now we're ready to install our pump. To be able to do this, we're going to ahead and use the existing piping as a guide to be able to put it on the new pump and so this allowed us to come up with a metal adapter that we needed, a check valve and to actually keep the water in the pump housing and into the piping and then a connection to the incoming line. We also created a pressured outlet line valve that we're going to basically screw into the pump and this will also, it has a fill place so we can make sure that we prime the pump. To do this, first thing you have to do is have some tap on tape and tap on tape here. Everything else has already been glued. You want to make sure you get this good and tight to prevent any leakage of air into the system. You let air into the system, the pump is going to possibly lose prime and it will also lose the pressure that you want. We're going to tighten that, now nice and tight and we have tight pressure, tight torque. Then we're going to go ahead and put the outgoing line which is at the top of the pump, using the tap on tape, let's get this sealed, we're going to thread that right into the top. Turn it as tight as we can so that we can try to match up the piping, torque it good. There we go. Now we're ready to install the pipe to the existing piping, there, make sure it matches up. And then we have our incoming line and if we did the measurements right and we did, it fits good and snug. So all the pipes are here, we don't go ahead and tighten everything down to make sure that we have a good tight fitting. So everything is good and tight, we have all of our fittings in place, we're ready to prime

Auto-generated transcript. May contain errors.