View Full Version : Sump pump not at low point in basement
schorsch
May 4, 2013, 06:36 PM
Our 1920's house has a sump pump that is not in the low point of the basement. It is about 4" above the low point but is in a corner. The actual low point is in the middle of the room. How can we correct this or get a hose routed without having it sitting in the middle of the room all the time?
We never used to get water but recent construction in the neighborhood has changed that and we are regularly getting water in our basement.
smearcase
May 4, 2013, 06:48 PM
Do you mean that changes in the neighborhood have caused surface drainage to flow toward your house and it enters your basement? What kind of construction was done?
When you say that the pump is 4" higher than the low point, are you comparing the bottom of the sump pit to a floor elevation? Do you have a concrete slab floor or a dirt floor? A sketch or photos might help us understand the problem more clearly.
speedball1
May 6, 2013, 08:11 AM
Would it help to lower the pump and pit 6 inches deeper? If not then I can see no other solution but to move the unit over to the low spot. Good luck, Tom
Milo Dolezal
May 6, 2013, 03:01 PM
I think Smearcase is asking very good questions. Please, answer those so we can help. Thanks. Milo
schorsch
May 6, 2013, 03:03 PM
We have a concrete slab floor and the elevation of the sump pump is higher than the lowest point in the floor.
And our neighbors put in an addition requiring flood control drains but they unplug the drains so they don't flood causing us to flood. Yes we have reported it but unless we have a video or something to prove it (other than them bragging about it) we are out of luck. When we added on we had to put in a swale (sp) that is working like a funnel now.
Milo Dolezal
May 6, 2013, 03:07 PM
Is that sump pump sitting inside a pit or on top of the concrete slab floor ? Back to you. Milo
schorsch
May 7, 2013, 01:08 PM
It is inside a pit
smearcase
May 7, 2013, 06:28 PM
Could you install a yard inlet and pipe the runoff to a location where it will leave your property? Sounds like the water is penetrating through your foundation walls. If diverting it on the outside of the house is not possible, you could lower the sump pit as speedball suggested and run a pipe from the low spot in the floor to the sump pit (and using a backflow preventer especially in case of a pump failure in which case you would get water from the pit coming out onto the floor low spot). But you would still be treating the symptom instead of the disease (the groundwater entering your basement which will cause further damage even if you are able to keep pumping it out). If you could realistically pump it out and get rid of it with a sump pump, why not try and divert it before it enters and take the surface water to the area where the sump pump takes it to-- where I assume you are getting it off your property. But I don't know the particulars about slopes etc on the outside of your house.