Why is one sump pump feeder pipe out of two plugged?
Is it because of stupidity**, or could there be a good reason?
A friend has lived in her house 2 years. It's about 50 or 60 years old. It has a sump pump in the basement. The basement floor is about
5 or 6 feet below grade. (Did they use sumppumps 50 years ago?, or was it added?)There is some sort of clear plastic stuffed into one of the 5" feeder pipes, the one that heads towards the side of the house. (The other pipe that heads toward the back is unplugged.)
She's only had the house for 2 years and for some of that time, water has seeped in the basement when it rains. She recently watched close enough to learn that it is from the side of the house which feeds the plugged feeder pipe.
My only reasonable guess is: Is it possible that the plastic pipe collapsed partly and dirt was entering the sump along with the water?
It seems to me the plastic should be removed and she should see how it goes, rather than spend 2000 to 3000 dollars for a French drain, which is the only other plan.
What say you all?
**There is no end to stupidity. My next door neighbor had his sump pump output rerouted to his basement sink, even though he knew the sink backed up and poured onto the floor when the stream reached flood stage, about once every two years. So where would the sump pump water go if the sink was already full of water??!!