Replies

1. 
   walta100 | Apr 04, 2019 04:46pm | #1

   Is there enough slope on your property so you can drain the basement to daylight?

   Walta

1. 
   Rockwell60 | Apr 05, 2019 08:00am | #4

   Not much if I make trench at the footer level where drain tiles are. However it works for my neighbour. I think though that there is a water passage under the drain tiles that lets water trapped under my house. the original system, 30 odd years ago never connected to the Municipal drains and may have plugged, forcing the passage.
   I did connect to the municipal system last fall and had tested the drain pipes around perimeter. they were ok.

2. Expert Member
   BILL WICHERS | Apr 04, 2019 05:15pm | #2

   Where was that drain system shown in the pics draining Before you added the sump pump? Is it possible the original drain has become blocked?

   Bill

1. 
   Rockwell60 | Apr 05, 2019 08:01am | #5

   Yes the original drain may had become blocked before I connected to the municipal drain system last fall (as per the T connection on picture).

3. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Apr 05, 2019 05:34am | #3

   Gilles,
   Ideally, every house with a basement has a functioning footing drain system. (Needless to say, a footing drain needs to lead somewhere -- to daylight, to a sump with a functioning sump pump, or to a distant dry well.) The footing drain should be lower than the level of the basement slab.

   Ideally, every house with a basement also has a well-drained layer of crushed stone under the basement slab.

   We can't determine whether your house has these features -- an adequate footing drain system and an adequate layer of well-drained crushed stone under the slab. If you want to investigate further, you can. (Needless to say, many older homes lack these features, or have footing drain systems that are clogged.)

   If your house had the recommended features I listed, you wouldn't see standing water in your sump.

   By the way, April is the usual month when water enters basements. That part of your tale is totally normal. April brings thawing temperatures -- the frost leaves the ground -- as well as melting snow and rain.

   For more information on these issues, see "Fixing a Wet Basement."

4. 
   Rockwell60 | Apr 05, 2019 08:06am | #6

   Thanks.. I think they have the drain pipes over the footing or alongside, but not under.
   I may have to live with a sump pump which activates around this time of year only, for about a month.

5. 
   gusfhb | Apr 05, 2019 08:22am | #7

   I cannot tell from the picture where the gutter downspout in the circled area drains. Making sure they drain 6 feet or so from the foundation might prove helpful.

6. 
   Peter Yost | Apr 08, 2019 08:09am | #8

   Hi Giles -

   Here is a blog I wrote that might help: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/water-tables-and-basements

   And then I have also written a couple of blogs about basement/foundation waterproofing:

   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/wingnut-testing-basement-waterproofing

   https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/wingnut-real-world-testing-of-basement-waterproofing

   Peter