How Do You Make a Drain Underground Go Up in Plumbing?

Consult local building codes prior to beginning basin and pump installation, as several aspects of a system may be regulated, ranging from basin and outlet location to venting and discharge.

Break up concrete in the area where the basin must be installed and remove underlying materials to the depth required to accommodate the basin. At the same time, it may be necessary to break up concrete and excavate a trench for the drainpipes that carry water or waste to the basin. When excavating the trench and pit, keep in mind that the pipe should slope at a rate of about 1 to 2 percent toward the inlet on the basin. Use a jackhammer or concrete saw to break up the concrete.

Install the basin in the pit. If it must be raised, place clean, coarse gravel under the basin and compact the gravel. Check to make sure that the basin is even and set solidly. Place plastic or composite shims under the basin to make any necessary corrections.

Insert the inlet pipe into the basin through the hole near the top or side of the basin. Lubricate the pipe with dish soap so that it fits through the gasket snugly and easily. The pipe should extend about 2 inches into the basin. Make sure that the inlet pipe slopes slightly towards the basin, and surround the pipe with gravel if work involving the pipe is complete.

Attach the discharge pipe to the discharge on the sump or sewage pump. The discharge pipe should be long enough that it extends at least 6 inches above the basin when the pump is set in the bottom of the pit. The way that the discharge pipe connects to the pump varies, but it typically involves either screwing threaded pipe in or using PVC cement to glue it.

Drill a 3/16-inch hole in the discharge pipe about 3 inches above where the discharge exits the pump.

Place the pump with attached discharge pipe in the bottom of the basin.

Install the basin cover. Lubricate the discharge pipe with dish soap so that it fits through the gasket on the cover easily. Pull the power cords through the hole for electric cords in the cover. Secure the basin cover using suitable hardware, typically included with the basin.

Direct the discharge. For a sump pump, this involves attaching a sometimes lengthy section of pipe or hose that directs the water far enough away from the structure. For a sewage pump, the discharge pipe must be connected to the structure's sewer line. This typically involves installing multiple sections of PVC piping, connectors and a hub using PVC cement between the discharge pipe and the main line.

Place a vent pipe if the pump and basin installed are for sewage. The vent pipe, which exists to direct harmful gas out of the basin and structure, must extend out of the structure roof or connect to an existing vent pipe.

Plug the pump in. Plug the float switch piggyback plug into a grounded outlet before plugging the pump into the piggyback switch.

Fill in the space around the basin with gravel and place a concrete patch around the basin. Mix the patch according to manufacturer directions, use a trowel to shovel the patch into the space and create a smooth finish with a float.