Fixing my clogged basement stairs exterior drain

Our drain didn't do the one thing it was meant to do -- drain. So, after finishing our basement, we decided I couldn't put this fix off anymore. After considering all of the options (Awning, roof extension, sump pump, manual-shop-vac suctioning after each rainstorm) we decided that we needed more invasive interventions -- dig it out -- install a large 55-gallon barrel with holes and an area to drain into the ground and re-install a drain and concrete.

It wasn't easy. It wasn't professional. It was definitely DIY. But ... it's done. And I haven't had to worry about a flood since.

Drain (look it up online):
Sku#: 1002698361
Model#: 80071

Music Credits: Streambeats by Harris Heller

[TrendyStone]

Great job. I did something very similar and it has worked great. I'm in norther Utah with a very low water table in my area so no sump pumps in the homes in my area. After five years to my surprise no significant dirt or leaves have collected in the barrel so there has been no need to clean out the barrel.

[jr.]

Refreshing to know I'm not the only one with a shitty outside drain problem 😂

[zinmot]

Hi. Thanks for the video. How this system has been working in the past few months? I live in NJ and sump pump would freeze in winter so I need something different. I'd appreciate it if you could let me know how this system is working.

[mr.dahliaking.]

Where does the original pipe lead to? Is it connected to some outside French drain? Or maybe your house is on a hill and downhill this pipe leads out somewhere out in the wild grass and discharges onto the slope? Maybe it was more wise idea to try to flush out the original pipe and to see if it actually drains and then connect it to the blue barrel in the middle point so all dirt could flow into it and leach to the ground, but the water could be draining to the pipe? For example my house is on a hill and downhill is a huge lake. Inside my basement water bubbles up trough the walls and the concrete floor 24/7/365 and flows trough the sloped floor to the drain pit and inside that pit is a cast iron 4 inch pipe that leads underground to the lake and inside the sloped shore you can find it open in the wild grasses and the water always trickle trough it. My grandpa installed it himself when he built the house in 1950s and it works perfectly til this day. So does your original pipe discharges to some place or is it just some length of corrugated pipe with the end blocked off?

[tonkihonks]

Doesn’t water that close sifts through your foundation?

[richardgandolfo]

What prevents the barrel from filling up with dirt over time? I have the same problem

[abokwu]

were youfetting basement flooding before doing this repair? how has it worked out since? it looks great