sump pumps: Articles tagged with “sump pumps”

Q: What can I do about moisture building up on my windows?

Q: I have a cinder block wall in a finished basement in a house built in 1978. Behind the paneling, the drywall and the studs were rotted out from moisture. A sump pump was added at some point before we bought it, but there is no evidence of standing water. There are hairline cracks in the wall on the outside, below ground level, but no large cracks (as far as I can tell). After removing the drywall and insulation, the cinder blocks were damp, not wet, but dried out eventually. Do I need to trench around the foundation and re-coat with waterproofing, or is waterproof paint on the inside good enough?

This information can clarify and help answer some questions about sump pumps.

Q: I have a smell in my basement that is coming from the sump pump pit.

Where gravity drainage is impossible or impaired, a sump pump may be used to raise the water to a level where it can be carried off through a drain line. This type of pump is a small, simple, compact unit installed in a sump, or pit, at the low corner or other wet spot in the basement.

Do you have a basement that, during a heavy rain, looks more like a swimming pool? Basement flooding is a common problem, particularly in houses situated on flat terrain where rain and snow melt have little chance for runoff. When the ground becomes saturated, ground water pressure builds, forcing water towards any path of little resistance. If the water finds cracks and fissures in your foundation walls or floors, it seeps in to fill the "pool" -- your basement.

The main sewer line out of your home is an extension of your main stack line inside the house. It leaves near the foundation and connects to the municipal sewer line near the street or into a septic system. When water backs up onto a basement floor, there is either a clog in the sewer service line, floor drain line or drain trap. Your service professional can determine where the clog is.

Following are some methods in basement waterproofing:

Q: I have a drainage problem in my basement. The sump pump does not turn on. We had heavy rainfall and the basement was covered with water. It seems the electric socket does not work because I plugged in other tools and they would not run either. All other sockets in our house are working. Do I need an electrician? Is there anything I can do to fix it myself? Is there a way to get power to this socket?

This consumer guide outlines the various causes and the variety of available remedies for wet basements. The guide is designed to ensure that you know the issues, are able to evaluate advice you receive from contractors, and feel confident about undertaking a solution before the water damage becomes too severe.

Q: I recently bought a lower level condo and now have had to tear up the floor because there is water seeping up from the ground. I have recently learned this happened three times within the year before I bought the condo.

Any idea as to the source of this water and if it is possible to fix it permanently?