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| My Foundation Is Leaking After A Big Melt | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 28 2016, 07:22 AM (1,624 Views) | |
| Durgan | Dec 29 2016, 04:11 AM Post #16 |
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Veteran Member
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Ya got the idea. Don't use the flat ones. Get all water directed down the driveway. It can be buried and improved doing the summer by digging a few trenches with five inch plastic drain pipes and a it of gravel. Dead simple. In my present location I dug 300 feet by hand over six weeks when I first bought this property. I have now perfect drainage. Usually city laws want all the water to be dispersed on the property so anything running to the street storm sewers should be hidden to prevent conflicts. The city engineers forget that water runs to a lower level. Downhill if you like. The first scientific fact determined by Adam. (Water runs downhill) |
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| Calm | Dec 29 2016, 04:28 AM Post #17 |
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Small Star Member
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Hi! Trotsky I was thinking that the example shown at your link is the right idea, but I need something much smaller. 4" round or smaller. Sort of like a clothes dryer vent pipe, but smaller and very pliable material, like those garden hoses that shrink or wind up themselves. Maybe, something like this to leave the downspout and travel across a front door step ..... seems sturdy enough and thin enough, that people could step on it when walking up the stairs. It would not hinder any traffic. https://www.google.ca/search?q=roof+rain+gutter+hose+extension&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=766&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi95ILj25XRAhUI1oMKHeC1BgAQsAQIIQ#tbm=isch&q=COLLAPSIBLE+gutter+hose+extension&imgrc=KN02_PU3K8bB0M%3A https://www.google.ca/search?q=roof+rain+gutter+hose+extension&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=766&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi95ILj25XRAhUI1oMKHeC1BgAQsAQIIQ#tbm=isch&q=COLLAPSIBLE+gutter+hose+extension&imgrc=8RtXnkoNv69SJM%3A And then maybe something like this to extend the distance of the water away from my house. https://www.google.ca/search?q=roof+rain+gutter+hose+extension&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=766&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi95ILj25XRAhUI1oMKHeC1BgAQsAQIIQ#tbm=isch&q=COLLAPSIBLE+gutter+hose+extension&imgrc=zw2BTtpcUTvEJM%3A Since I don't have a car, (just an e-Bike), I do most of my shopping on line if possible. So, I am always doing Google Trips to find what I need. Calm Edited by Calm, Dec 29 2016, 04:30 AM.
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| campy | Dec 29 2016, 04:33 AM Post #18 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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If the water is coming in on one area of the basement then the drainage is the problem . If the water is coming in on all areas of the basement it signifies that the weeping tile is not doing its job. It could be plugged or the pipe carrying the water away into the storm sewer could be plugged. There are people with cameras that can go through the lines to see if they are all clear. Also. In some areas. The weeping tiles are still frozen and haven't thawed out yet in which case any unnatural flooding or unusual flooding will cause problems. I had the same problem you describe where I lived. It was eventually discovered that there was a crack in the wall of the foundation and the water was coming in on one area. I sold the home. The new owners dug down and repaired the hole. As long as you are prepared to get it fixed, it can be done to your satisfaction. Can you see an area in the basement where the drain tiles are connected to, to see if the water is being drained away? That's what they do. They connect all the drain tiles to one spot for collection to the storm sewer or a sump pump. |
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| wildie | Dec 29 2016, 04:36 AM Post #19 |
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Veteran Member
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I ave owned 4 homes that had basement water problems. The one where I presently live, had water come in about 3 months after I purchased it. Initially, I couldn't understand why, and then by chance I was up in the attic on a sunny day! Looking up at the underside of the roof, looked like looking at stars in the sky at night. I knew that the roof was old but I was shocked at the number of holes. When it rained, water ran down into the basement via the first floor walls. Fortunately, its an older home, with plastered walls and no damage occurred. If it was dry wall it would have been disastrous. I quickly arranged for a new roof. I still had some ground leakage on the side where my neighbors driveway runs. I noticed that the driveway had a second course of asphalt applied at some point in time. This raised the drive level up high and it drained over onto my side and hence, the water ran down and into my basement. My solution was to truck in some fill and raise my side to divert the water elsewhere. Another problem in the same place was that my eves trough over-flowed in the centre rather than go down the drain pipe. I raised the trough in the middle and added over-sized drains at each end of the run. With these efforts my water problems came to an end. I am of the opinion that the first line of attack should be the source of the water. |
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| Calm | Dec 29 2016, 04:48 AM Post #20 |
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Small Star Member
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Hi! Durgan: A year ago when the first flood happened, it was just after a huge record breaking downfall of rain in a very short period of time. My sump pump worked well, a bit tense, but the water entered my basement via the floor drain. Not sewer water. Storm drain water. I think it was that my sump pump was pumping water out to the underground storm drain pipe leading to the city storm drain on the street. The height of the water flow in the city sewer lines on the street were too small, and what my sump pump was pumping could not enter the Street storm line, because the city pipes were at full capacity. So it backflowed up my sewer line on basement floor. This time with the snow melt, the water came in from where the basement floor meets the foundation walls. Really not much water. Perhaps less than 100 gallons. (I was not counting.) None came up the basement floor drain. Yuh know, I have done a lot of work over the past 2 years. The insurance company made me construct a railing around my back deck and gazebo. The deck is 25 x 20 and the gazebo is 12 x 12. I spent about 5 thousand bucks for saws and tools. And another 3 thousand on wood and paint. I had to screw down lots of wooden planks, and dig 6 or seven post holes. I would normally post you a photo, but I am not allowed to post pictures here anymore. But, I am old and ancient now. I just bend over and it sort of hurts. If not now, then tomorrow for sure, I will get a jab of pain when I stumble out of bed. Any real physical work, I am hiring out. Calm Edited by Calm, Dec 29 2016, 04:52 AM.
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| Calm | Dec 29 2016, 05:04 AM Post #21 |
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Small Star Member
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Hi! Campy: So, what you are saying is that the weeping tile, which is running (underground) along side my foundation, where wall meets floor, and is directing excess water from the ground surrounding my house towards my sump pump? And, because the well of the sump pump is lower or deeper than the weeping tile, the water enters my sump pump well through the bottom of the well? Gravity feed or flow. What confuses me, is that when it is raining or there is snow melt, I see water entering my sump pump well from the top through 3 or four slots in the well wall. Where is that water coming from? It can't be coming from the weeping tile because that enters the bottom of the well, not the top? Right? Edit: 12:20pm Oh! I just went and took a good look at the sump pump setup. I might be wrong with earlier statements. Water from weeping tile enters near the top of the Sump Pump well and not the bottom. So, the water which is entering the top of the well is from the weeping tile. There is nothing happening at the bottom of the well. I took some photos, and especially concerning my eavestrough downspout issue, and am prepared to make them available for you to view. But, like I said I am not allowed to post cartoons and whatever here anymore. But, if you thought it would be easier to comprehend what I am trying to explain with a photo, I guess I could private message you and give you the link that way. But only if you thought it might be helpful or necessary. Calm Edited by Calm, Dec 29 2016, 05:26 AM.
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| campy | Dec 29 2016, 05:26 AM Post #22 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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Calm. The water entering your sump pump is coming from the weeping tille. That's where they lead into. If they are running then they are doing the job. But you have explained exactly what is happening is that the water is coming up from from the floor drain because it can't get away if the sewers outside are full due to the heavy rain waiting to be carried away because the storm sewers are too small so it backs up and comes up through the floor drain. When the water goes down on the road then the drains will start working again and the water will find its way out. Heavy, heavy, downpours can't get carried away fast enough all along the line. There are items that are called backwater valves that will allow water to leave but not come back if the main sewers back up from overflow. You possibly could look into that option and have one installed. The sump pump takes the water from the drain tiles, What enters the bottom is seepage underneath the house and you really don't want that to be the only way to get rid of the water. I'm glad you mentioned that the water came up through your floor drain. That is the real problem. In my area, the homeowners, petitioned the city to increase the size of the storm drains and that eliminated the problem in my area. If it's just a bit of water that comes in through the floor drain, I would definitely look at installing a backwater valve. This is what I am talking about. There are all kinds of them on the market and usually it's a plumber that installs them or a drain tile company. http://www.backwater-valves.com/ |
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| Dana | Dec 29 2016, 06:00 AM Post #23 |
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WWS Hummingbird Guru & Wildlife photographer extrordinaire
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"First. Insure all the downspout water is directed away from the house. This is as simple as hooking a plastic flex pipe to the down sport and run it away about 8 feet." Just don't be a jerk and do what this neighbour is doing. Posted Image |
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| Dialtone | Dec 29 2016, 06:26 AM Post #24 |
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Gold Star Member
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You can bury 4" flexible drain pipe to divert water away from the house. It comes in perforated or non-perforated, and will withstand soil and moderate loads on top of it. https://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Plumbing-Electrical/Plumbing/Waterworks/Water-Pipes/Sewer/4-x-100-Perforated-Drain-Pipe/_/N-ntjbg/R-I3260090 this is available at any hardware store like Lowes, Rona, Home Depot. http://www.northlandconstruction.com/product/solid-weeping-tile-4-x-100-70686 Edited by Dialtone, Dec 29 2016, 06:28 AM.
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| campy | Dec 29 2016, 06:30 AM Post #25 |
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Handyman Extraordinaire
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Diverting water away means it has to go somewhere. So where? To the neighbours yard? I have often thought about a 'dry well' about thirty feet from the property to divert the water to. It will eventually seep into the surrounding earth. Water causes more damage problems in our area than fire. The insurance premiums and payouts sure show it. Another alternative is ugly but it works. A deep ditch at one end of the property. Edited by campy, Dec 29 2016, 07:16 AM.
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| Calm | Dec 29 2016, 09:02 AM Post #26 |
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Small Star Member
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OK ..... I am quite convinced that I have the sump pump discharging properly now, and intend to buy a piece of 4" flex hose of some type and run it down my driveway a bit. It would eventually run off onto a paved street with a sewer grate about 50' away max. I am not saying I solved the problem. I am only saying I have managed to alleviate the problem somewhat, by directing the water away from the house. Tomorrow, I am going to check out the complete eavestrough set up and alleviate anything faulty. I am too afraid of high heights to climb a ladder and check to see if the eavestrough is blocked with leaves or whatever. I would feel more comfortable using scaffolding. I don't mind climbing straight up, I just can't handle climbing a bouncing 10 or 12 foot ladder. I plan to buy a 12' Scaffold before next fall when I need to paint the house trim. Calm Edited by Calm, Dec 29 2016, 09:03 AM.
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| Calm | Dec 29 2016, 09:33 AM Post #27 |
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Small Star Member
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About Building Inspectors: There is a first time for everything, and hiring a building inspector for the house I wanted to buy, was a pretty serious decision. I did not want to hire somebody from my neighbourhood. I did not want to hire the "Usual" inspector which the Real Estate company uses sometimes. This is a small town, and everybody owes everybody a favour. So, I found a guy from the city of Windsor. http://www.seacliffinspections.com This inspector walked and peeked about every crack and cranny for at least 3 or perhaps 4 hours. I was busy with the original owner of the house, and the real estate person was with us too. So, it was my brother who stuck to the shirt tails of the inspector during the tour. I was very impressed at what this guy looked at and all his "Cautionary" tales, but nothing too serious. Too many to mention here. He did not tell me that I "Needed" railings on the backyard deck. The insurance guy told me that. Sort of get it done or we are not going to insure you. I removed and replaced all the deck boards and planks. I had to screw in at least 8 screws every square foot on a 25 x 20 deck. And in the hot days of summer. A real nightmare. I learned all about 45 degree angles and plank cutting. I knew the day I bought the house that I needed to replace a shingled roof. Within 2 days of taking house ownership, I paid a roofing company 5 thousand to complete the work. Also, to shuffle or move the roof vents around a bit. At the end of the day, I pay the guy cash and I even tipped the workers them selves and gave them 100 dollars cash each. Just trying to be kind. After the guy and the truck leaves, or the next morning at daylight I went up into the attic to see the new vents installed. The guys had removed a vent and moved it elsewhere, as planned .... but they never cut a piece of scrap plywood to fill the hole in the roof from where it was first installed. They just put tarpaper over it and then shingles on top. I could use the end of a broom handle and push the tar paper up and down like a wave of sorts. So, I call the guy, and complain. He gives me some Candy-Ass answer about he is not responsible. Well he said that to the wrong guy. Within 2 hours, I had a website domain name purchased for 25 bucks and then created a website with "Shame" and the name of the roofing company as the website name and URL address. I can put a website up in my sleep, I have done it so many times. Within 24 hours, I had a new roofing company to come in and do it properly and it cost me 8 hundred dollars. And I paid that. Then I contacted the roofing company by e-mail and gave them the link and told them that I would have the website "Go-Live" if they refused. The newly created website had photos of their shoddy work. He said he would pay me the 800 I paid for having it done again. The next day, he sheepishly walked up my driveway and deposited a cheque in my mail box. He never knocked and I never saw him again. Calm Edited by Calm, Dec 29 2016, 09:44 AM.
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| Dana | Dec 29 2016, 01:15 PM Post #28 |
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WWS Hummingbird Guru & Wildlife photographer extrordinaire
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"I just can't handle climbing a bouncing 10 or 12 foot ladder" Me neither. We had a deluge of rain about a month ago. An eaves trough was stopped up and dropping water near the front door. I tried snaking a hose, with water running, up the down spout to no avail and then went upstairs, hauled the hose up to the 2nd story window with a rope, tied it to a painting pole in the shape of a crook with the hose nozzle pointing down and aimed it at the place where the blockage was. It WORKED! |
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| wildie | Dec 29 2016, 03:27 PM Post #29 |
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Veteran Member
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I agree with what Campy has posted. One other thing that I would mention is that floor drain covers with a floating ball cage are available. Normally the ball (looks like a table tennis ball) sits at the bottom of the cage. However, if water backs up from the trap, the ball floats up and blocks the water flow. I have one of these in my floor drain, just in case. |
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| wildie | Dec 29 2016, 03:32 PM Post #30 |
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Veteran Member
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How about a French Drain, Campy! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_drain |
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