French drain and sump pump installation

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Hi,

We have a flooding problem in the back of our garden (lawn area). During the wetter months, it floods pretty badly. The area used to have a brook running through it. This has been filled in. Neighbours have tried soakaways without success. My own property has a sump pump already installed, but it's not very good. The sump pit empties and take an age to fill up due to bad drainage. I can see for example that the holes in the sump pit plastic thing are too small. On the outside the graven is very fine -- too fine to allow effective drainage, I think. I can only assume the channels that lead to this are also poorly done.

My first plan is to overhaul the sump pit. At least 3 inches of 1/2 inch gravel around the pit and more holes in the pit liner, each 1/4 inch in width.

My second plan is to buy a new sump pump to go in there. The float switch on the one we have is unreliable and a higher flow rate won't hurt.

The third part is where I am coming up short. what is the best way to divert water to the sump area? Should I opt for a french drain type thing, or would a storm drain leading there be better? Any advice would be appreciated.

Also, any advice on what I should use as the liner for my sump pit (can you buy dedicated goods, or can you just use a water butt??) as well as type / make of pump that you good folk have experienced would be great.

Thanks a bundle.

PJ.
 
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Can you not just ditch the idea of a sump and drain all the water to the place where you pump it do already? (or is that uphill from the sump?)
 
Can you not just ditch the idea of a sump and drain all the water to the place where you pump it do already? (or is that uphill from the sump?)

No, we can't do that for the reason you mentioned.. The rain drain thing by the house is at least a foot above that area, plus it's about 25 meter away..
 
OK

French drains work well if done right. Have done plenty over the years. Its easy - not rocket science. :D
 
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The flooding is presumably why the olden people put a brook in to take the water away.
 
OK

French drains work well if done right. Have done plenty over the years. Its easy - not rocket science. :D

Yep, I've seem a lot of videos and read a lot about how to do it right, so i am fairly confident that would work. In terms of a sump pump, what would you recommend? Which is a reputable make? I'm thinking that 1/2 horsepower with a 1.5 inch outlet would be plenty for this distance / height.

Cheers.
 
OK

French drains work well if done right. Have done plenty over the years. Its easy - not rocket science. :D

Yep, I've seem a lot of videos and read a lot about how to do it right, so i am fairly confident that would work. Anything on this part of my question?

"Also, any advice on what I should use as the liner for my sump pit (can you buy dedicated goods, or can you just use a water butt??) as well as type / make of pump that you good folk have experienced would be great."

Cheers.
 

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