Take a shot at this one:

If it rains, why do I get water in my basement? I have a center drain
in the basement which rises during a bad storm. Prev owners rigged a
half-assed solution it seems as a bandaid fix. What they did was route
a 2 inch pvc under the floor which meets this center drain towards the
top. This pvc then slopes a few degrees underground and empties into a
plastic tub or catch in the floor in the other room under the addition.
When I bought this house there was carpeting in the basement which
looked used and no signs of water damage. It was covering this center
drain. Shortly after moving in, a bad rain storm hit and we got 3
inches of water in the basement.

Since I didn't know what I know now, the tub/catch that the water flows
into when a storm causes water to rise high in the center drain, just
sits there. Since the water doesn't have anywhere to go, it came out of
the center drain and ruined our basement. I have since placed a sump
pump into that pit which was convieniently covered up when i purchased
the house. I'm pumping water out a basement window via tubing that came
with the pump. Haven't gotten any water in the basement since I
installed the pump, but I'm forced to leave the door open to accomodate
the hose which is routed out the window and connecting to the pump in
the pit under the addition. The smell is unbearable and is funneled
through the house via the ac and vents.

I've had a few plumbers out there and another is going to come out
today to hopefully tell me what the problem is and why its set up this
way. My question to you fine folks is, is such a setup common? Its not
a true sump setup in the traditional terms. The prev owner never
informed us that a pump was needed back there to remove the water and
there doesnt seem to be any condiut to allow the pump to move the water
out of the house except through my makeshift design which is going out
the window.

I'm a first time home owner and me and my wife feel cheated. We loved
this house which apparently has some drainage problems. Also, the main
big PVC drain appears to have been re-routed after they installed an
addition and is running above ground in the basement. The old way out
is capped off.

Do I have a serious problem here and what should I do? Short of
installing some sort of flood control solution in the front yard,
should I just find a way to pump the water through pvc and out of the
house via a drilled hole through the basement wall? Is this type of
setup even heard of?

nugz wrote:

Take a shot at this one:

If it rains, why do I get water in my basement? ...snip rambling from here on...

Because you don't have adequate drainage and waterproofing.

If this was (as it sounds like) an existing problem you may have some
recourse in recovering repair costs.

Consult a local geotech guy or contractor for specific advice.

Quite often simply correcting surface drainage and directing downspouts
away from foundations is adequate. In more difficult areas it may
require rework of the basement wall drainage system.

Did you have the house inspected by a reputable home inspector before
purchasing it? I suspect not, because all this is something that could
have been easily uncovered. I'd get a home inspector pronto, to look
at not only this problem, but the whole house. It's virtually
impossible to diagnose something like this or give solutions without
seeing it.

I'd also take a good look at what's going on outside. Is the soil
graded away from the house? Are there gutters and are they working?
Is water from the leaders led away from the foundation as far as
practical? Get out there during a good rain too, to verify what's
happening.

If you're facing costly repairs on the basement issue, I'd contact a
lawyer, or consider small claims court, depending on the amount. You
may have a valid case against the seller, as it sounds like things were
done to hide problems that the seller knew about. I'd make sure to
take pics now of what happened, showing how it was concealed, etc,
before making repairs.

Funny thing is I did have an inspector look at the place and didn't
find anything wrong with the plumbing. Only thing he suggested was to
cover up the pit that's collecting the overflow since it located under
the addition where the back of the old house used to be. I think he
sucked as an inspector and Im considering talking legal action against
him if thats possible.

Anyway, my gutters are feeding into some drain and is going under
ground. Does that usually lead into the city drain before or after my
house? In other words, if the city drainage is slow, would the water
coming in from the gutters be trying to go out and not have anywhere to
go but back into the basement? I had the main drain rodded out and I'm
wondering why water still decides to back up during a storm when I'm
not flushing toilets or doing laundry. Basically, Im not adding any
additional water during a storm from within the house.

"nugz" wrote in message
ups.com...
Funny thing is I did have an inspector look at the place and didn't
find anything wrong with the plumbing. Only thing he suggested was to
cover up the pit that's collecting the overflow since it located under
the addition where the back of the old house used to be. I think he
sucked as an inspector and Im considering talking legal action against
him if thats possible.

It should be.

Anyway, my gutters are feeding into some drain and is going under
ground. Does that usually lead into the city drain before or after my
house?

This could easily be the problem. If the drain your gutters feed into is
clogged or broken, then all that water builds up in the ground around your
foundation. During a rain storm, does this drain back up? Rent a drain
clearing unit, "snake" or whatever they call it, and see if its plugged up.
What about letting the gutter water drain off on the surface?



In other words, if the city drainage is slow, would the water
coming in from the gutters be trying to go out and not have anywhere to
go but back into the basement? I had the main drain rodded out and I'm
wondering why water still decides to back up during a storm when I'm
not flushing toilets or doing laundry. Basically, Im not adding any
additional water during a storm from within the house.

nugz wrote:

Funny thing is I did have an inspector look at the place and didn't
find anything wrong with the plumbing. Only thing he suggested was to
cover up the pit that's collecting the overflow since it located under
the addition where the back of the old house used to be. I think he
sucked as an inspector and Im considering talking legal action against
him if thats possible.

You saw a pit w/ no obvious drainage and didn't think something wrong?

Anyway, my gutters are feeding into some drain and is going under
ground. Does that usually lead into the city drain before or after my
house? ...

No. Rarely (if ever) do cities allow gutter connections into city
sewers. That doesn't mean somebody didn't do something they shouldn't
have, of course, but it isn't "usual".

I hope you have some sort of documentation on file the original
condition. I would assume there are disclosure laws in your state that
were followed prior to the sale? If so, I'd check those forms carefully
for willful misrepresentation that is definitely documentable. It is
quite possible you will have grounds for some recompense from the
seller. As for the inspector, that would depend quite a bit on what he
actually said in his weasel-words the situation.

I'm really appreciating all the feedback guys. I didn't know what that
pit was and didn't think anything of it. Thought it was an old catch
basin. Maybe that's what's underneath the plastic tub that's collecting
the water.

Anyway, last time the basement flooded, the water came up through the
center drain. What happened was that the water tried flowing through
the pvc that'd "tee'd" to the center drain near the top and into the
tub in the other room. Obviously that filled and the water had nowhere
to go except out the center drain and flooded us.

Here's where I need the most advice and clarification if at all
possible. If I'm not generating any water waste in my house during a
storm and the city drainage in the street is really slow, why would I
get water backing up in my basement? The only thing I can think of is
that my gutters had something to do with this since they feed down the
house and straight underground. Where is that water going and did that
cause my flood? I had the main rodded shortly after I got most of the
water out of the basement and it seemed to help. I'm confused on how
the gutters that normally feed into the ground are routed. Can't
invision it. I was not home when I got flooded so I'm positive that no
water in the house caused it. I assume if the city had slow rain drains
and I was emptying out the hot tub or doing laundry, that the water
would have no where to go but out the lowest drain in the house which
is in the basement.

What Jim posted above makes sense except I dont envision water coming
down the gutters and going underground and just spilling into the soil
and causing me problems, at least not the flooding in the basement
through an open drain. I do understand however, that if the gutters are
feeding into the same pipe that's leading out of the house and the city
drainage isn't adequate, then water would back up into my house. Is
this correct?

What should I ask my plumber about tonight. I want to make the best use
of the free estimate.

"Duane Bozarth" wrote in message
...
nugz wrote:

Funny thing is I did have an inspector look at the place and didn't
find anything wrong with the plumbing. Only thing he suggested was to
cover up the pit that's collecting the overflow since it located under
the addition where the back of the old house used to be. I think he
sucked as an inspector and Im considering talking legal action against
him if thats possible.

You saw a pit w/ no obvious drainage and didn't think something wrong?

Anyway, my gutters are feeding into some drain and is going under
ground. Does that usually lead into the city drain before or after my
house? ...

No. Rarely (if ever) do cities allow gutter connections into city
sewers. That doesn't mean somebody didn't do something they shouldn't
have, of course, but it isn't "usual".

I hope you have some sort of documentation on file the original
condition. I would assume there are disclosure laws in your state that
were followed prior to the sale? If so, I'd check those forms carefully
for willful misrepresentation that is definitely documentable. It is
quite possible you will have grounds for some recompense from the
seller. As for the inspector, that would depend quite a bit on what he
actually said in his weasel-words the situation.





A lot of places do allow roof drains into sewers.

But these are to storm sewers NOT sanitary sewers.
There is two completely different pipes coming on to the property.

Regardless, pipes/sewer lines can plug from collapse, roots, dirt/gravel
washing in, etc.

So the OP should check as in another post that the pipe outside is not
backing up every time it rains.

Easiest fix is just to run roof gutters above ground and away from the
foundation.


As for the rest, I agree with the previous thread, check your sale papers,
and hang the inspector.

The OP may not have understood a dry sump with no drain was suspect.
But the idiot inspector is paid to know better.


Until the problem is repaired properly though, to save yourself a lot of
mopping, plug the drain that keeps backing up with an old rag or even a kids
ball that can act as a cork.


AMUN

"nugz" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm really appreciating all the feedback guys. I didn't know what that
pit was and didn't think anything of it. Thought it was an old catch
basin. Maybe that's what's underneath the plastic tub that's collecting
the water.

Anyway, last time the basement flooded, the water came up through the
center drain. What happened was that the water tried flowing through
the pvc that'd "tee'd" to the center drain near the top and into the
tub in the other room. Obviously that filled and the water had nowhere
to go except out the center drain and flooded us.

Probably this inside the basement tub/drain connects to the underground
gutter drain. If that drain is plugged or broken or just too small to
accomodate gutter input, it has to go somewhere and backs up into your
basement tubs drain.


Here's where I need the most advice and clarification if at all
possible. If I'm not generating any water waste in my house during a
storm and the city drainage in the street is really slow, why would I
get water backing up in my basement? The only thing I can think of is
that my gutters had something to do with this since they feed down the
house and straight underground. Where is that water going and did that
cause my flood? I had the main rodded shortly after I got most of the
water out of the basement and it seemed to help. I'm confused on how
the gutters that normally feed into the ground are routed. Can't
invision it. I was not home when I got flooded so I'm positive that no
water in the house caused it. I assume if the city had slow rain drains
and I was emptying out the hot tub or doing laundry, that the water
would have no where to go but out the lowest drain in the house which
is in the basement.

What Jim posted above makes sense except I dont envision water coming
down the gutters and going underground and just spilling into the soil
and causing me problems, at least not the flooding in the basement
through an open drain. I do understand however, that if the gutters are
feeding into the same pipe that's leading out of the house and the city
drainage isn't adequate, then water would back up into my house. Is
this correct?

Yeah. Can you simply have the gutters drain onto the surface? The current
setup is probably an underground gravel filled hole that these drains lead
to, and something has gone wrong so the water isn't, or maybe never did,
quickly flowing into it. Hence, the water backs up the tub drain.


What should I ask my plumber about tonight. I want to make the best use
of the free estimate.

If all this is caused by gutter water, and you can drain the gutters onto
the surface and away from the house with some gutter work, you don't need a
plumber.

Again, thanks for the many replies, but the only reason I just didnt
plug the center drain was becuase I didnt want water to start coming up
through sinks and toilets. Is there anything stopping the water backing
up from rising 2 stories and ruining my master bath? Or are there check
valves in place to safeguard against this sort of thing? BTW, what is
OP?

I may just pay to get a camera down there and get to the bottom of this
becuase when the center drain in the basement does back up and
overflows into the plastic tub dug into the ground, it smells of
sewage.

One other question I would really appreciate help on is the function of
a catch basin. I believe that the plastic tub I keep refering to which
catches the overflow when the center drain backs up, is sitting in the
same hole where the old catch basin used to be. Since this is no longer
outside of the house becuase of the addition, it's underneath my new
kitchen. If I were to remove this plastic tub, and a catch basin is
under there, how does it work?

"nugz" wrote in message
oups.com...
Again, thanks for the many replies, but the only reason I just didnt
plug the center drain was becuase I didnt want water to start coming up
through sinks and toilets. Is there anything stopping the water backing
up from rising 2 stories and ruining my master bath? Or are there check
valves in place to safeguard against this sort of thing? BTW, what is
OP?

I may just pay to get a camera down there and get to the bottom of this
becuase when the center drain in the basement does back up and
overflows into the plastic tub dug into the ground, it smells of
sewage.

One other question I would really appreciate help on is the function of
a catch basin. I believe that the plastic tub I keep refering to which
catches the overflow when the center drain backs up, is sitting in the
same hole where the old catch basin used to be. Since this is no longer
outside of the house becuase of the addition, it's underneath my new
kitchen. If I were to remove this plastic tub, and a catch basin is
under there, how does it work?


OP is short for "original post(er) the one who started the thread.

But first of all this is a problem for a real plumber/ sewer company not
anything for the internet.
As all anyone here can do is give "best guesses".


I'm starting to think the tub you referred to is an old "sump pump", and
the pipe to the sewer was the original "overflow" that was intended to let
water out if the sump pump failed.
And it's unlikely there is both a sump pump AND storm sewers
so that pipe is likely to a sanitary sewer

There should not be any check valves in any of the sewer pipes, but water
won't back up two floors
It would blow out any plug you put in the basement long before. and
rainwater for downspouts would stop once it his ground level.

But don't worry much about plugging the drain.
The key here is fix the reason why it backs up in the first place as soon as
possible.

A plumber in your home, or "rooter" guys will tell you fast what needs to be
done.


AMUN