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Hello EBrandon, I have a question about the sump pump in our house at our acreage. Due to the HIGH amounts of rain this year, our sump pump has had a pretty good run. It has still been pumping out water from under the house off and on since Halloween. The pump runs from under the crawl space beneath our steps in the basement, and runs into the drain pipe that goes outside to a distance about 60 feet from the house. Since this is still running, what should I do about it regarding winter? Where it leaves the drain pipe, there is an area where the water still seeps to, which hasn''t frozen yet, but obviously, I am concerned about the pipe freezing with winter weather upon us. Where the sump piping leaves the basement to the exterior of the house, it joins up with the below ground pipe in a spot under my deck. Do I attempt to disconnect it under the deck so it no longer runs through the pipe in the ground, or leave it? What risks do I have since the sump is still running right now? Is there a chance the sump will freeze, and the water might back up into the basement?  
 
Edited by Mr.BDS, 2016-12-02 16:08:00

There is a reason basements are as deep as they are. The ground freezes that far down. Do you have sufficient down slope that water will run all the way out?  
 
Had a house in Winnipeg, 30 years ago. House, next door, sump pump was running all winter. Distance from the house, down a gentle slope, 60 feet to the road. I do not recall their drain hose freezing. They did have quite the glacier at the end of it though.  
 
How long have you been in this home?

And last winter wasn't a concern for us, as we honestly didn't even find out about where the drain extended to until this year with the moisture. Anyway, thanks for the info, this should help me sleep better. Maybe next year, I will prepare ahead if there is heavy rain and I can build an ice rink, lol!  
 
Edited by Mr.BDS, 2016-12-02 17:34:29

The previous owners set this up correctly.  
 
You should have at least six inch pipe. With a good slope, you should be fine. Sump pump fires the water out at a pretty good pressure, not like it is dribbling, sitting, waiting to freeze.

Was set up right, and I am certainly grateful! Haven't seen a drop of water in the basement! And believe me, there was a LOT of rain this year!