How to Install a Dehumidifier Pump

A dehumidifier.
  • 2-4 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 400-750
What You'll Need
Dehumidifier
Condensate pump
Flexible tubing
3/4 -inch PVC pipe
PVC transition fitting
PVC couplers and 45-degree elbow fittings
Teflon tape
Barbed PVC fitting
Plumber's tape
PVC glue
Power drill
Paddle bits
Utility knife
What You'll Need
Dehumidifier
Condensate pump
Flexible tubing
3/4 -inch PVC pipe
PVC transition fitting
PVC couplers and 45-degree elbow fittings
Teflon tape
Barbed PVC fitting
Plumber's tape
PVC glue
Power drill
Paddle bits
Utility knife

A dehumidifier pump is a handy add-on that effectively eliminates the need to empty out the water collection pail every few days. A dehumidifier can reduce the moisture levels in an area of the home, but it will shut off once the pail reaches capacity. If your home has a sump where excess water drains, you can transfer the water from the dehumidifier to it via a pump.

Step 1 - Prepare the Dehumidifier Water Collection Pail

Unplug the dehumidifier and remove the water collection pail. Most models provide a round adapter area on the pail designed for a hose installation. With the paddle bit, drill a hole through the collection pail in the designated spot. Make the hole slightly smaller than the area provided.

Step 2 - Attach Hose to Pail

The adapter on the collection pail should have a male threaded end built in just for this purpose. Screw on a length of flexible tubing with a threaded female end attached.

Step 3 - Feed Hose into Pump

Feed the other end of the hose you just connected to the dehumidifier pail into the inlet port of the freestanding pump. This end of the hose doesn't require a threaded fastener, but it should be inserted deep enough so as not to leak any water outside of the pump. Inside the pump, the hose end should be about 2 inches above the bottom so the pump isn't constantly running.

Step 4 - Run a Hose from the Pump to the Sump

Once the connection has been made from the dehumidifier to the pump, the next step is to run a line from the pump to the sump so the pumped water can drain. This is accomplished either with flexible tubing or a combination of tubing and PVC pipe depending on how far the water has to travel. The pump should have a built-in threaded outlet. For relatively short distances, simply attach a length of hose with the corresponding threaded adapter attached and run the other end into the sump.

Step 5 - Run a Combination of Hosing and PVC

In some cases, the dehumidifier might be many yards from the sump. Rather than run flexible tubing the entire way, you'll use a combination of tubing and ¾-inch PVC pipe. Run a short length of tubing out from the pump. Connect the other end of the hose to a PVC transition fitting. The larger end of the fitting should fit ¾-inch PVC. Join the tube with the smaller end of the transition fitting using a barbed-end fitting with its threads wrapped in Teflon tape.

Plan the route the PVC will take to reach the sump. Use couplers and 45-degree elbow connectors as needed to join pieces. Glue the PVC pieces together as you go and secure them with metal plumber's tape. Regardless of the path, the pipe should angle downward so water drains. Glue the transition fitting attached to the hose to the first length of PVC.

Step 6 - Empty into Sump and Activate

Either run the final length of PVC directly into the sump or attach another length of tube with a transition fitting as in Step 5 and feed the open end into the sump. Fill the dehumidifier water collection pail, turn both it and the pump on and test the system, making sure there are no leaks.