Using an inefficient pump is also a problem in green house gas generation. Just like with our cars, even though 4 or fewer cylinders will get you there comfortably, six and eights are preferred. There really is no good reason, but people buy them anyway. Pond pumps are also able to do the job more efficiently than utility or sump pumps, and are designed for the job they do. You can get there real fast and spend a lot on the gas to do that, or you can get there fast enough, and spend half as much on gas. Same with water pumps. You can spend a lot of money to move the water, or you can spend less. You can risk polluting your water with oil, or you can get a safe pump. Any of the primary options creates bigger problems for the planet. I try to live efficiently. And hope others will too, as it is less expensive personally, and more healthy for everyone in the long run. Being able to afford to do something wrong, doesn't make it right. If you can't find the right way to spend your money, give it to someone that can. Oh, in the interest of full disclosure, I am not perfect, that is god's business. I am simply trying to be excellent! (Though still FAR from that!) I smoke, I drink, I use weed killer, I use bug killer, I drive a car, I have an OLD septic system, I have some incandescent light bulbs, and I have a chlorinated swimming pool. But, I smoke and drink less than I used to. I follow the directions on the killer cans, and use them now as a LAST resort, I drive a car that gets 38 mi/gal, have compact florescents in my most used fixtures, and want to convert the pool to a pond, just couldn't sell the Mrs. on it. Yes, I have a long way to go, but I am better now than ever, and encourage others to try to improve as well. Little bits here and there from everyone, ad up to big bits that are good for everyone. So please, use the most efficient pump you can. -TT -TT

I have a lot of irrigation questions so I will try to keep this one focused. Looking at my house the front and rear gutter downspouts drain into PVC piping. This piping is buried next to my driveway. The waterproofing company thinks it will be ok to tie the sump pump drainage into this system. The PVC piping discharges about halfway down my driveway. Already a small "culvert"? has formed about 20 feet long and two feet wide. After the 20 feet the remaining water dumps out onto the driveway into the street. So, two questions. Do you think it's bad advice to tie the sump into this system. Assuming that that is sound, what is the best way to capture the water that is discharging from the PVC. I would like to put in a rain garden (although the space is very narrow and against my property line), or perhaps a dry well. There is nothing really to irrigate on that side of the driveway. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks, Andrew

I see your solution I don't like it. If the water from the downspout freezes in the vertical line it will prevent your discharge line from letting water exit from the sump pump. That verticals line can freeze gradually if the downspout is only dripping water into the vehicle line. If you don't have a good flow of water it will freeze before it gets to the end of the line no matter what drop vertically there is. It's referred to as slow flow freeze here. Drip freeze, drip freeze, repeat. A larger diameter line as Brickeeye suggests makes the problem worse because in a larger diameter line there is less water vertically in the line which means the depth of water is less and the flow is wider which helps it freeze faster. A shallow puddle will freeze faster than a deep puddle. Heat trace the exit line from the sump or at least insulate it with insulating pipe tape. Many sewage lines to cisterns and septic beds have frozen this year because in the wisdom of our county they changed the code from 3" discharge to 4" from the dwelling to the septic bed or cistern We have a bit of experience with freezing here. Some places have frozen water this year that never froze in the history of the home. If you think it won't freeze again this year what brings you to that conclusion? This will be a long winter and late spring. I've lived here on the Great Lakes for 60 years and never felt the cold and constant wind like this winter. My heat trace line is good to minus 40C and it froze, 40C is where centigrade and Fahrenheit meets. -40C is -40F. Edit, do not put heat tracing on this line, of there isn't any water in the line it will melt the PVC or ABS. This post was edited by SouthernCanuck on Fri, Feb 28, 14 at 9:35

Does the water being expelled look dirty or clean? If it is clean then your neighbor may have a broken water pipe with the runoff being collected in the sump pump. Was the sump running before the neighbor left for a week? If so did you talk to him about it? If so, what did he say about it? You stated that this âÂÂIt has never done this in the previous years...and to add, MINE never runs in the winterâ Have you had above average rain this winter? It sounds like its either water entering from the foundation or a domestic water line break. I would try to contact the neighbor or a relative as soon as you can and not wait until he returns. (Even the water Co. they may be able to detect abnormal consumption) If itâÂÂs a broken water line the damage will only get worse and your âÂÂice rinkâ will get bigger. Good luck