Ask Me Help Desk - Basement Flooding

We have a home which was built 6 years ago and we have a basement with a sump pump and backup sump pump. 9 months ago we had flooding due to the main sump going out. The backup could not keep up with the water flow. We had our original plumber come in (and builder) and he replaced the sump. This morning we find the basement flooded again! The plumber returns and says that the GFI switch was tripped and backup valve was turned off. Neither my husband nor myself have touched the valve. We are in the basement on a daily basis to exercise. This is an unfinished basement, by the way, which is a blessing! The plumber is telling us that he isn't sure what is happening; but he feels the backup is not big enough nor is there one that is to keep up with the amount of water flow we have coming in if the main pump goes out again. He suggests we by another pump which would be 2 main pumps and get a generator (3,000 to 4,000). I have asked why the water is coming in like that and where it's coming in from. The answer I get is that we are on a high water plane and that when it rains, we get excessive amounts of water and the pumps can't keep up. His solution? None, really. The builder has no solution other than to replace the outlet. It's very frustrating. I had the basement people in last time and they didn't feel it was a basement problem. What to do; where to turn? We just don't want this happening again. Thanks for any help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rmy953

We have a home which was built 6 years ago and we have a basement with a sump pump and backup sump pump. 9 months ago we had flooding due to the main sump going out. The backup could not keep up with the water flow. We had our original plumber come in (and builder) and he replaced the sump. This morning we find the basement flooded again! The plumber returns and says that the GFI switch was tripped and backup valve was turned off. Neither my husband nor myself have touched the valve. We are in the basement on a daily basis to exercise. This is an unfinished basement, by the way, which is a blessing! The plumber is telling us that he isn't sure what is happening; but he feels the backup is not big enough nor is there one that is to keep up with the amount of water flow we have coming in if the main pump goes out again. He suggests we by another pump which would be 2 main pumps and get a generator (3,000 to 4,000). I have asked why the water is coming in like that and where it's coming in from. The answer I get is that we are on a high water plane and that when it rains, we get excessive amounts of water and the pumps can't keep up. His solution? None, really. The builder has no solution other than to replace the outlet. It's very frustrating. I had the basement people in last time and they didn't feel it was a basement problem. What to do; where to turn? We just don't want this happening again. Thanks for any help.

Sounds like your on the right track but from what I've seen in the field normally the problem is that the water is not being pumped far enough away from the foundation and the water that is being pumped out is running right back in on top of being in an area with a high water table you would be asking a lot from any pump good luck hope this was helpful ps. The gutters on the house need to be piped as far away from the foundation as possible as well bcause if not you would just be asking that much more out of the pump

Has anyone suggested installing a french drain,(see image) around the basement and just piping the water away? Check out how they work at;
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...s+installation
Regards, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim dandy

sounds like your on the right track but from what i've seen in the field normally the problem is that the water is not being pumped far enough away from the foundation and the water that is being pumped out is running right back in on top of being in an area with a high water table you would be asking alot from any pump good luck hope this was helpful ps. the gutters on the house need to be piped as far away from the foundation as possible as well bcause if not you would just be asking that much more out of the pump

Thank you so much for your answer. We have had 2 plumbers in and one wanted to sell us everything under the sun and the other one was very conservative. We have decided to stay with the 1/4 hp pump, the water backup, and put an alarm system on the pump. Hopefully this will help.