I am having a problem with my sump pump hose freezing up into a huge ice plug that won't allow water to pass.
My sump sump is in the basement and I have a 2" PVC pipe that vents to the outside. It extends about 6 to 8 inches outside the siding and then connects to a 18' corrugated plastic hose that lays on a slight decline to the bottom of my yard. The hose obviously lays along the ground in the ice and snow and lately it has been fairly cold here in Illinois, so it seems to be freezing up at least once a week. I can here the pump kick on, and then it cycles continuously since the water level is not dropping. I am lucky that I have been home for the last 5 or 6, but i am worried I am going to burn up the unit if I don't catch it.
I usually remedy the problem by releasing the clamp at the head of the hose to release pressure (right next to my foundation, sigh!!!) and then pour hot water down the hose until the ice plug melts. Not a fun occupation when it is 7 degrees outside!!!
Any ideas of how to remedy this situation both short and long term. By short term of course I mean until the spring thaw and long term would be anything I can do to make sure this does not happen anymore next year.
I do try to keep the hose at a good angle so the water drains properly, and I try to keep the snow and ice away from the hose by going outside every couple of days to make sure it is not buried. Probably not as often as I should, though!
One more thing, it was colder last winter, it is the same hose, and I did not have any of these problems.
Thanks for the advice. This website is amazing!
My sump sump is in the basement and I have a 2" PVC pipe that vents to the outside. It extends about 6 to 8 inches outside the siding and then connects to a 18' corrugated plastic hose that lays on a slight decline to the bottom of my yard. The hose obviously lays along the ground in the ice and snow and lately it has been fairly cold here in Illinois, so it seems to be freezing up at least once a week. I can here the pump kick on, and then it cycles continuously since the water level is not dropping. I am lucky that I have been home for the last 5 or 6, but i am worried I am going to burn up the unit if I don't catch it.
I usually remedy the problem by releasing the clamp at the head of the hose to release pressure (right next to my foundation, sigh!!!) and then pour hot water down the hose until the ice plug melts. Not a fun occupation when it is 7 degrees outside!!!
Any ideas of how to remedy this situation both short and long term. By short term of course I mean until the spring thaw and long term would be anything I can do to make sure this does not happen anymore next year.
I do try to keep the hose at a good angle so the water drains properly, and I try to keep the snow and ice away from the hose by going outside every couple of days to make sure it is not buried. Probably not as often as I should, though!
One more thing, it was colder last winter, it is the same hose, and I did not have any of these problems.
Thanks for the advice. This website is amazing!