If you live in a low-lying area or in an older home that doesn’t have an adequate basement waterproofing system, then you likely encounter problems with basement flooding from time to time. Fortunately, even if you live in an old home, you can eliminate all basement flooding problems by installing a sump well and a pump. For most homeowners, it’s probably a good idea to hire someone to do this job, but if you’re brave and have some experience with this type of work, you can do it yourself. Here’s what to do.


Step 1: Get your materials. You’ll need a jackhammer, a plastic sump liner, about 8 feet of coarse gravel, some concrete, a trowel, PVC piping, and a submersible sump pump.

Step 2: Choose a location. Your sump should be in the lowest part of your basement, and it’s a good idea to place it a foot or so away from a wall. If there’s a corner of your basement that seems to be on a slight downslope from the rest, then that’s probably the best spot.

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