How to Avoid Frozen Sump Pump Discharge Lines

Sump pumps are some of the most underrated devices in the home. Typically, they stay in below-grade areas, ensuring floods from incoming water don’t wreak havoc on the basement.

Many areas experience a cycle of freeze, thaw, and refreezing in winter. Wild temperature fluctuations can cause water to freeze or back up in the drains or exterior discharge lines. This can lead to serious problems inside the home, like water seepage and flooding.

This article explains the cause of frozen discharge lines, how they impact your home, and how JES Foundation Repair can help you protect your home with innovative and reliable basement waterproofing solutions.

What Is a Discharge Line?

A discharge line is a pipe that’s attached to the sump pump. Contractors prefer PVC pipes as they are sturdy and rust-resistant. It’s directed to the home’s exterior and can be buried in the ground like downspout extensions. Once the discharge pipe is directed outside, it should extend far from the foundation and run downhill to stop backflows to your sump pump. To prevent backflows, the discharge point has to be 10 feet from the exit. Ideally, the discharge pipe should be at least two feet below the frost line in your area. This will prevent water in the pipe from freezing, which can lead to clogs. It will also be easier for you to dig and open up the pipe if there’s a problem.

Why Do Drainage Lines Freeze? 

When outside temperatures dip below 32°F, water will freeze. You’re likely to find puddles frozen and ice in your yard. Whenever the sump pump ejects water from the basement, it can freeze on the discharge line due to the freezing conditions. Some homeowners don’t realize the freezing can happen on the pipes as well. Layers of ice will build up and eventually block water from exiting the line. Water from your basement will back up, as it has nowhere to go. 

What Can Happen When Discharge Lines Freeze? 

Your basement will start flooding, and this can lead to severe foundation damage. In addition, your sump pump will run continually, and then fail eventually because it’s overheating while trying to empty the basement. How long this takes isn’t clear. But commercial-grade pumps can manage to function for some time before they burn out. Either way, sump pump failure is bad news for your basement. 

Protecting Your Discharge Line 

While you can’t control the temperatures outside your home, you can take active measures to protect your sump pump and its discharge line. One way to do this is to construct the discharge line in a way that doesn’t freeze over. The discharge line for the sump pump should extend a minimum of 10 feet on the outside. If it ends right on the foundation wall, water will likely seep back into your basement. 

Typically, these lines are buried or extended out and above the grade. If you choose to bury yours, make sure they stay below the frost line. Pipes that run above the ground present a different challenge, but it’s one that can be remedied. When laying down these pipes, make sure they follow a downward slope so water keeps flowing. Water in the pipe is likely to freeze if the line runs straight horizontally. Changing the line’s gradient can mean the difference between keeping the basement or crawl space interior dry and allowing it to flood. 

Invest in Exterior Protection

If you live in an area where the sump pump’s discharge line is prone to freezing in winter, consider installing a FreezeGuard™. It’s the cure for frozen and blocked lines due to plummeting temperatures and ice. This anti-freeze device works like an overflow valve. Placed vertically, it allows water to escape through open slots without spilling during repeated pump cycles, forestalling basement flooding. 

Even if your drains or discharge lines freeze, the FreezeGuard™ will still be able to keep water out of your basement. There’s less fuss, as it has no valves to turn and doesn’t require a hose to be attached. 

Additional Tips

Here are a few other tips to follow regarding your discharge lines. 

• Insulate the intake section, as it’s vulnerable to freezing. A large diameter does the trick. 

• If the discharge line freezes, thaw it with a portable heater, as it is non-intrusive. 
• Inspect the sump basin regularly and test your sump pump to ensure it’s functioning properly. 
• A sump pump check valve is a vital addition. Without it, water would fall back to the sump pit each time the pump shuts off and the pump would have to eject it again. Over time, this will increase the sump pump’s wear and tear, which can lead to burnout or failure.

JES Can Help You Protect Your Sump Pump 

Your sump pump has one purpose, and that’s to expel water that seeps into your home. While this device sees little action in the dry summer, winter months can be particularly hard on it. You want to make sure it stays protected, and the best way to do that is to add a FreezeGuard™ to its discharge line. 

Contact JES Foundation Repair today for a free inspection and quote and to have this anti-freeze discharge installed outside of your home. Our patented anti-freeze device bolsters your waterproofing efforts ensuring your basement stays dry even during the coldest winter. Best of all, it’s compatible with various sump pump systems. 

Discharge Line FAQs

Will Grated Drain Pipes Freeze in Winter?

BasementGutter™ Grated Drain Pipes are designed to be installed inside the home, where your home’s insulation protects them from the worst of the chill. Exterior drains will freeze in winter, although this can be mitigated through certain measures, such as salting the drains. Interior basement drains should remain free of ice, even if the basement isn’t properly insulated. 

One of the reasons why JES highly recommends installing interior drains is for this very reason. 

Interior Drains: A Freeze-Free Solution 

Interior drains won’t freeze, which is essential for keeping the basement free of water in cold weather. 

Our winters may see snowfall, but ice rarely penetrates the earth more than a few feet in our area. 

Even still, the peace of mind our drainage solutions provide is valuable. Plus, moisture can still seep into your basement during winter, and once spring hits and the ice melts there will be even more water to deal with. 

JES recommends a basement sump pump to ensure all water is efficiently discharged from your basement drainage network! 

The Importance of Keeping Drains Ice-Free 

As water freezes, it expands. Drains will grow full blocks of ice that can damage the drainage network and block discharge lines – not only with ice, but trapped debris as well. This can cause an overflow of water, which may push water back into your home or cause exterior gutters to overflow. Triggering flooding, inside and out, and further issues with ice.

Can Cold Temperatures Affect The Need For Home Repairs?

Cold temperatures, particularly freezing temperatures, can certainly impact your home structures—but not for the better. Freezing temperatures are most problematic for any systems that transport water since the water inside these systems can freeze. This can alter the function of these systems and even damage them if not properly maintained. This is true for your sump pump discharge lines and even your crawl space itself.

Water freezes at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Those that live in either Richmond or Petersburg, VA are no stranger to this type of weather, especially in the winter months. It can reach at or below freezing temperatures in January, February, and December, averaging around 27 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Sump pump discharge lines that freeze can become backed up, increasing the risk of backflow and flooding, or can even become overworked, resulting in overheating and sump pump failure. Furthermore, crawl spaces that are not waterproofed or insulated can experience extremely cold temperatures, which can affect the temperature within your home as well, disrupting how comfortable your living space can be.

For sump pump discharge lines that are vulnerable to freezing over during the winter, JES Foundation Repair offers the FreezeGuard™ to curb leaks or flooding due to blockage. It works by providing your blocked, frozen sump pump lines an alternate path for the water to flow out through so that you do not experience flooding within your basement, crawl space, or wherever your sump pump basin is located. For crawl spaces, homeowners may want to consider insulating it with the ExTremeBloc™ Crawl Space Insulation panels, which have graphite particles woven into the foam insulation to increase the amount of heat that is reflected back into your crawl space. Not only will this protect it against the freezing temperatures of winter, but it also resists moisture penetration from snow and improves the temperature retention of your home.

Should I consider a backup sump pump? 

We advise incorporating a battery backup to your sump pump system, particularly if you’ve experienced significant flooding and power outages. Our backup options ensure uninterrupted operation of your sump pump during power losses. Contact JES Foundation Repair for a tailored recommendation. 

Michael Wilcher

Michael Wilcher is the Content Lead at Groundworks, helping us to answer all of our customers biggest questions about foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, and concrete lifting. In his free time, Michael enjoys collecting vinyl records, watching Formula 1 Racing, and reading philosophy. He holds an MPhil from the University of Cambridge.

Related Resources

Is a Sump Pit Really A Necessity?

5 Popular Types of Sump Pump Systems

Basement Drainage: How to Pick The Right One For Your Home