I am thinking of putting a bedroom downstairs in the basement. The best area would be where the sump-pump currently is. I was thinking of boxing the sump-pump in with access on the other side of the wall. However, I want to know if I am crazy to have the bedroom along side the sump-pump. Can the box in be soundproof? What about the vibrations on the basement floor? Can I move the actual motor of the sump-pump somewhere else? I have read the article on your website regarding soundproofing the basement but before I do this I wanted to make sure it is doable with a sump-pump. I don't want guest who are still tired because the sump-pump went on in the middle of the night.
Answer:
While you may have some problems making it completely sound proof, there are ways of cutting the noise down. The say I cover pumps to keep atmospheric humidity down will do part of that: Sump pumps should never be allowed to operate alone. There should always be as much back up for them as possible. One system is to have a second pump on hand for urgent, quick replacement. This means that the actual hook-up would probably be better done with hose clamps and radiator hoses than corrodable, threaded joints. Another is to install a "T" with a threaded cap somewhere along the interior line so that if the hose plugs for whatever reason (frost, collapse, vermin, etc.) another hose can be attached inside and there is no embarrassing gap in service. The preferred system incorporates two pumps in the same hole (both of them submersible) set at slightly different levels for being activated. Sump holes should also be fitted with covers which have weather stripped holes only large enough for the various protrusions (pipes, wires, etc.) through them. Three-quarter-inch plywood makes a good cover and if the necessary holes are drilled in a straight line, the plywood can be cut to fit around all the protrusions, the edges of it properly weather-stripped and put in place. This keeps an otherwise large surface of water from evaporating into the basement and substantially raising humidity levels there.
