How to Install a Dry Well for a Sump Pump | This Old House

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• I am getting blisters on my hands just from watching them dig that much without gloves!

• Which is better.....to keep the well close to where your sump pump discharges out, or, if like my house at the top of a hill, should I run a pipe along the side of the house to the back (the lower part of the yard) and place the well there? A couple other questions, if I do run it through the alley to the backyard, how deep should the trench be (length is about 50 ft).....also, concerned about freezing. I'm in NJ, so it probably doesn't get as cold as where you guys are from, but we do get a few sub zero days. (trying to remember....but I think the pump still runs for a while on those cold days because the low ground is not frozen.....over a long period, of course, everything freezes and we get no water.

• This does not work with clay soil.

• My friend has a huge finger

• That is a very nice blend of tarp soil. Almost like it came out of a bag!.. I always recommend buying a heavy gauge blue or green top, for dumping the tarp soil on. They are only like $20.

• Ya always wana carry tha wata away from the house. And New Englaand has haad winters, so ya hav ta think about the freezing temps.

• FYI this is the correct install video. This Old House has another one with just a guy digging and they install the basin incorrectly.

• not using a 4 inch SCH 40 pipe for the discharge is a mistake. no 4 inch drain pipe, no float system to keep the pipe from snapping in two when the ground freezes, no overflow. What is this amateur hour? I hope this is not connected to a sump pump or that home owner will be pissed. That black flexible discharge hose sticking out of the house is a disaster waiting to happen. Anything outside the home should be PVC and if it's exposed to sunlight the PVC needs to be painted to prevent damage.

  that is of course assuming this is installed in a place that has snow. if it doesn't snow you should be ok.. though even a heavy rain can cause the ground to swell and move thus moving that pipe.. pretty shoddy design. No excuse not to do it right the first time. I'd be fired if I did this kind of crappy work

  1 1/2 inch PVC from the outside wall (from the sump pump) into an elbow pointing down with about a 2-3 inch nub on the end that goes into a 4 inch elbow with a 1-1/2 inch bushing on it. This will allow the drainage pipe to move freely when the ground does and you don't risk destroying your pipe or flooding your basement. Add to the pipe from the house a Y or T so you can have a freeze overflow so the water always has a place to go if the main drain freezes.

  Seriously i can't get over how bad this project was. on This Old House no less!

• no freeze thaw collar? no over flow should basin be filled?

• You didn't perk test the soil first.