OT: Sump pumps and a wet basement.

Casey in Ky · Mar 20, 2009

Long story short, I bought house last Febuary, basement stayed dried last year. Started a little mold and mildew on some baseboard in January, and week ago went downstairs and had about an inch of water in one corner(same place as the mold and mildew). The basement is finished with a tile floor.

My plan is to take about a 3' by 3' square in the wet corner, take up the tile, jack hammer the floor, dig a sump pit and install gravel and a basin, and a pump(since the water is staying in this corner, I'm assuming it's the low spot). I have access to Lowes Water Ace and Reliantone pumps, Ace hardware pumps, and TSC's Shurdri pumps. TSC has the best prices, but I don't know anything about the Shurdri pumps. Anybody have any experience with these pumps or can recomend anyting? Thanks.

Casey

Billy NY · Mar 20, 2009

Water Ace is a reputable company, dealt with them on one of their jet pumps, think they are located in Ohio.

Mike M · Mar 20, 2009

Any chance you have enough fall to get a REAL drain in there ?

Sump pumps are a problem too. Power goes out,switches fail things like that and you still flood.

buickddeere · Mar 20, 2009

Leave the inside of the house along. Dig around the house and drain the water away before it gets to the house.
Best way to handle a problem is to get rid of it instead of dealing with it.

Spook · Mar 20, 2009

I'd do simple things like making sure the downspouts drain off correctly. Some dirt work outside could be a whole lot easier. Maybe just extending the downspouts.

Casey in Ky · Mar 20, 2009

I've already done the simple things...extended two down spouts. Augered out the drain pipes under the basement floor, and even diverted a ditch to the front of the house in a sealed pipe. Still have water. I would've went ahead and dug out around the two uphill basement walls and put new drains in and sealed the walls but one side is built into pretty much solid rock and the other has a REALLY big, nice deck the entire length of the house. So thus the sump questions.

From what I've gathered online so far is that pretty much all the pumps are made by one company, Pentair Pump Group. Wayne pumps are probably different and I can't find much out about ACE's stuff. But Pentair makes Aurora Pump, Fairbanks Morse, Hydromatic, Layne & Bowler, Verti-Line, Aplex, Myers, Shur-Dri, Water Ace, and WellMate, so I'm guessing there's not much difference in the lot.

El Toro · Mar 20, 2009

Home Depot sells Ridgid sumps. My neighbor bought the pedestal pump and has a lifetime warranty. I installed it for him. Cost was $169.00. Hal

noncompos · Mar 20, 2009

I know nothing about sump pumps, but on the point of different retail names being m'f'd by one company, it can work both ways:
(A) it can be the same pump mechanically, with just a little different outside color or trim, etc., or
(B) some can be made to the "retail" companies specs; actually different mechanically or in the quality of components used if prices vary appreciably (not that the same eqpmt isn't often sold for widely varying prices).

Dan50 · Mar 20, 2009

I don't suppose the previous owner disclosed this problem as required at the time of sale? If you're getting water already, I'll bet they've had it also. I'm not a big litigation guy by any means, but it may be worth looking into if this is a potentially big money item.

-Dan

Casey in Ky · Mar 20, 2009

It was a foreclosed house...and was a lot dryer here last year...

bc · Mar 21, 2009

I've used a bunch of pumps and I'm not sure there is any one brand better than the others. I'd look for a cast iron pump and impeller. Probably better than the plastic. Used both pedestal and sump type and not sure which is better but have bought mainly the sump type lately. My sewage pump is a Water Ace from Lowes and I've already had to replace the float after 5 years. Find a way to anchor it in one spot though. Seem like they have a tendency to walk a little bit and then the float hangs up with the side. Or a cat knocks something into it to hang it up.

About the time the power goes out is when it has rained for a week and the water is flowing in like a garden hose. Have a backup plan. A drill pump or if worse comes to worse, pull the pump and bucket it over to the sewer drain. On install, cut the outlet pipe and use a rubber coupling and clamps for fast change out.

I have a little cheapie 9 volt alarm which has 2 contacts that I sit next to the sump and sewage pumps. Either one quits, water hits it and sets off the alarm.

Oldmax · Mar 23, 2009

I agree with "buickddeere" STOP THE WATER before it gets in the house or you will always have moisture in the basement. To install a sump pump will just remove excess water but basement will still be Damp & wet. If you want to fix right bite the bullet

OT: Sump pumps and a wet basement.

Casey in Ky

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Billy NY

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Mike M

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buickddeere

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Spook

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Casey in Ky

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El Toro

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noncompos

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Dan50

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Casey in Ky

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bc

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Oldmax

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