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chzymnky · Mar 2, 2015, 08:42 AM

We moved into our house about 1 year ago, and at that time the inspector tested the sump pump. I don't think I have ever heard/seen the pump run since that time, and the water level in the sump has never changed, even during a hard rain. The pipes that drain into the crock are bone dry. This past weekend I decided to test the system by unplugging the pump and pouring a couple 5 gal buckets of water into the crock. I was about to plug the pump in when I noticed that even WITHOUT the pump running, the water level drained to its normal level within 30~60 seconds. Is this a sign of some problem with my foundation? Or does this just mean the house is graded extremely well?

Thanks in advance!

hkstroud · Mar 2, 2015, 01:36 PM

Do the drainage pipes (from around the foundation) come into the sump crock near the top?

ballengerb1 · Mar 2, 2015, 01:59 PM

How deep is the water in the crock?

chzymnky · Mar 2, 2015, 03:48 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Here are my calibrated eyeball measurements:
1) The drainage pipes from the foundation come in 2~3 inches from the top of the crock.
2) I'd say the water is normally about 4~6 inches deep in the crock

Thanks!

hkstroud · Mar 2, 2015, 04:06 PM

I would say that you have a crack or hole in the sump crock, 4-6 inches above the bottom.

chzymnky · Mar 2, 2015, 05:15 PM

Aren't sumps supposed to be perforated in order to drain into the gravel/drain tiles under the foundation? Or am I mistaken?Thanks again!

hkstroud · Mar 2, 2015, 08:18 PM

Mine aren't.

ballengerb1 · Mar 2, 2015, 08:21 PM

It works the other way around. The foundation tiles or curtain drains allow water into them and they slowly fill the crock. The height of the water in the crock is normally close to the water table beneth your home. Do you ever see water coming into the crock via that line 3 " from the top?

chzymnky · Mar 3, 2015, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

It works the other way around. The foundation tiles or curtain drains allow water into them and they slowly fill the crock. The height of the water in the crock is normally close to the water table beneth your home. Do you ever see water coming into the crock via that line 3 " from the top?

No those pipes are bone dry, and have been as long as we've lived in the house (1 yr). Looking in the crock again last night, the bottom seems to be gravel and maybe some compacted dirt or dirty plastic... Does my crock need to be replaced?

Thanks!

hkstroud · Mar 3, 2015, 06:50 AM

I wouldn't. Apparently you have good drainage and a sump pump is not presently needed. I have two sump crocks but never put pumps in. They are there if I ever need them.

You probably have drainage piping around the exterior that drains to daylight. If that ever gets blocked or fails you have the sump pumps as back up. While water you poured into the crock will drain out into the soil under the floor, water in the soil will drain into the crock if the water table ever gets high enough to reach the bottom of the crock.

chzymnky · Mar 3, 2015, 11:05 AM

Ok, sounds good. I'll keep an eye on it, especially over the next few days as it rains and all the snow melts... Thanks again!