Standing Water Despite Sump Pump

What would cause certain parts of the basement floor to get puddles of water, even though a sump pump is installed and working?

I have a sump pump in my crawlspace. It runs during heavy rains (and for several days thereafter). Most of the time I have no problems with water in my basement.

When it rains a lot in a short period of time I will get some puddles, apparently ground water coming up through the floor. One such puddle is in the crawlspace about 10 feet away from the pump. Another is in the laundry room, about 20 feet away in the opposite direction. Most of the time these puddles drain quickly after the storm.

However, during the recent event (which granted is a ridiculous amount of rain in a short time) I got puddles in many areas of the basement. In some areas the puddles are still there, even though the sump pump has been running constantly.

I assume the purpose of the sump pump is to prevent this situation, so what more do I need? I realize this past storm was a freak of nature and almost everyone had water problems. Still, it is my understanding the sump pump should pump out the water before it reaches the floor.

Is it simply a matter of making sure to address the drainage outside? I have the ground sloping away from the house in all directions and the leaders extend 6 feet or more.

Reply to
DaveR
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Well, yes, a sump pump is supposed to drain the water before it rises high enough to create puddles, however, it cannot remove water that is blocked from getting to it. To do that you need either a good thickness of washed gravel (the type without filler between the stones) or a system of drain pipes to pick up and channel the water to the pump.

How is the water getting on top of the floor and where does it "drain" to, as you say. This water could be leaking in from the walls, or the seam between the walls and the floor. Or it could be soaking through the concrete floor or through cracks. You need to be observant of what and how it is happening rather than verbally throwing your hands up and saying "it doesn't work, why?". If you cannot bother to observe what is happening we cannot see anything from here!

Reply to
EXT

He said the sump pump was running continually. So it's not able to keep up with the water. In sandy soil water can come up for a long time after the rain stops. Even if the pump could empty the sump, water can still come up away from the sump.

Al

Reply to
Big Al

Clogged or slow drain tiles.

Have a plumber come in and check your pipes / drain tiles with a camera. If necessary install cleanouts and clean them.

Reply to
dnoyeB

He didn't say the sump was overflowing, just commented that water was appearing on the floor some distance away from the sump which he said was running constantly -- does this mean continuously without a break or just running most of the time but not all. This water means either it overflowed without him noticing, or it is leaking in from somewhere at or by the wall or up through the floor. Good drainage piping or under floor gravel would allow the water to find the pump without appearing elsewhere. The lack of observation and a poor description of what is installed makes it impossible to diagnose over the internet.

Reply to
EXT

I don't know if he knows this, but the word for the second meaning is continual. Easy to remember if you can recall the word interval which also ends in -al. Continuous means without a break.

Reply to
mm

Sorry, I should have been more clear.

The sump pump is in a spot in the crawlspace. During heavy rains and for several days thereafter it is common for it to run often, that is, it empties, then fills up in 1-2 minutes and empties again. It does not run all the time.

The pump keeps up with the water in the pit. The pit itself does not overflow. However, water seeps up from underneath the floor in different parts of the basement. A puddle often forms in a spot about

10 feet away from the pit. It is also common for the cement floor to get wet in the immediate area surrounding the pit.

It does not appear as if the water is coming in through the walls. It seems to come up from the floor, due to a high water table, which is common in this area.

The previous owner installed the sump pump. For all I know he did it himself by simply digging a pit, drilling some holes, and sticking a pump in there. I do not see any evidence of drain tiles or any other mechanism that might lead water into the pit.

So, what would be needed to make sure a proper system is in place to ensure that the sump pump pit gets the groundwater before it rises in other areas? What kind of contractor should I hire for such a job? I am very wary of hiring any "waterproofing" specialists since scams abound...

Reply to
DaveR

As I said, a plumber with a camera. They can charge a nifty penny for those camera checks though. But its what you need if you want to keep things nice and dry.

Reply to
dnoyeB

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