How to Connect a Drain Pipe to a Pedestal Sump Pump

House Drain Line Fitting Installation

• 1

  Cut the house drain line above the outlet for the sump pump with a hacksaw. Ensure the cut is straight.

• 2

  Slide the round side of a half-round file around the inside of each open pipe end created by the hacksaw cut. Continue sliding the file until no burrs remain inside the pipe. Slide the straight side of the file around the outside of both sides of the cut to remove any outside burrs.

• 3

  Coat the three inside sockets of a PVC tee-fitting and the outside walls of the drainpipe with PVC primer. Immediately coat all primed surfaces with PVC glue. Pull one side of the drainpipe down. Slide one fitting socket over the end of the pulled pipe. Pull the other side of the cut pipe down. Align it with the other fitting socket. Push the assembly up until the pipe sits in its original position. Rotate the fitting to aim the remaining socket toward the opening of the sump pump discharge opening.

Sump Pump Discharge Line Installation

• 4

  Wrap an even layer of thread sealant tape around the threads of a threaded pipe nipple. Align the coated threads of the nipple with the discharge opening. Turn the nipple clockwise to thread it into the base of the pedestal sump pump. Tighten the nipple, by turning it clockwise with an adjustable wrench.

• 5

  Measure the distance from the interior flange of the threaded PVC nipple to the center of the pipe leading to the connecting point of the home’s drain line with a tape measure. Measure the depth of the socket on each PVC fitting -- elbows, tees and valves -- needed to connect the pump’s discharge line to the house drain. Subtract the socket measurements from the distance between the pump discharge and the home’s drain line.

• 6

  Cut a piece of PVC pipe to length with a hacksaw. Remove the cutting ridge from the inside of the cut pipe, by running a half-round file around the interior pipe wall.

• 7

  Clean the inside of the threaded nipple and the outside of the cut PVC pipe with PVC primer. Apply PVC glue to both clean surfaces immediately after they are primed. Slide the glued pieces together while twisting the pipe back and forth. Hold the pipe in the nipple for 30 to 45 seconds. Release the pipe.

• 8

  Install the remaining fittings and pipe using the described method until the discharge line is connected to the home’s drain line.