My sisters sump pump froze outside the wall for the second spring in a row since plumbers put in new piping to the outside. The pipe goes through the wall 1 foot and about 2 feet above the ground. The pipe has a 90 degree elbow that turns sideways with very little slope. There is no sun on this side of the house to warm the pipes. Could the cause be the fact that the elbow should 90 degree down, or does the pipe and elbow need insulation.Any other reasons and solutions for the freeze-up would be welcome.
Answer:
I'd remove the elebow completely and make sure there's a good slope downward to the whole exterior line. Neither would I permit a 'no-return' valve on the pump.
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