http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:05:58 GMT vBulletin 1440 http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/images/ca_evo/misc/rss.jpg http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/exterior-systems-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/16569-backyard-drainage-sump-pump.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:42:48 GMT Our lot (60 X 140) was likely originally designed in mid 1920's to drain towards the back property line (away from street), but with new construction in back, which elevated that area via grading, drainage now must go to street. We added a room addition 3 years ago and at that time added a passive drainage system (6" plastic corrugated pipe), however, the slope of that pipe is insufficient to drain a large area of the backyard. When the ground becomes saturated with multi-day rains, I can get an accumulation of 3 - 4" of water over a large area (especially where a downspout from gutter dumps to. I'd like to build (or place) a sump drain in this area with two incoming drains from the yard and downspout, and an out-going 1 1/2" PVC pipe which will go into the corrugated pipe and drain to the street. My plan would be to have a GFCI plug in the ground close to the sump pump location (and the pump would only switch on with sufficient water levels). Any requirements or problems with my plan from an inspection standpoint? I know they make prefab sumps that I can just place into the ground, but I'm wondering specifically where the GFCI receptacle can be placed below ground level but protect it from water accumulation and exposure. I don't want to hard-wire the sump pump if I can avoid it as I'd probably remove the pump for storage during the non-rainy season here in California. Any advice would be appreciated. I could submit a sketch and/or photo if that'll help with the description. ]]> Exterior Systems: Home Inspection and Commercial Inspection David Ormerod http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_inspection/exterior-systems-home-inspection-commercial-inspection/16569-backyard-drainage-sump-pump.html