Sump Pump working overtime

[Karl_K]

Hello Everyone,
I have so many questions I don't know where to start. First, let me start off by saying my home is going on 4 years old and since day onew we have had leaks. For the most part, our builder did come out and help us, but I figured out really quick that all they were doing was patching up the problem real quick to make us happy. We even now have the City of Barrie (where we live) involved and watching the builder. So far all is good. This year has been an unusually warm winter so lots of moisture. Some leaks have occured and they are coming out in the spring to take a look. My main concern however isnt so simple. My sump doesnt seem to stop. As I am typing this, it goes off every 5 minutes which is good, because at one point it was going every minute and a half. I have not been able to find any information pertaining to sump pumps other than what they do. I know what they are for, but is it normal to be running all the time. Even during the winter months it runs. There are some days that it will finally be cold enough to freeze, or dry enough that there is no water that it will stop. But it is rare and far in between. My worry is that the sump pump will burn out when I least expect it. Does anyone have any information regarding this dilema. If more information is needed, I will be happy to share. It is my belief that sump pumps are ther to protect your home in the rare occasions that water build up occurs. Maybe 5-6 times a year (each time being a week) Not constantly. I dont want to even think about renovating until I am confortable knowing this wont be an issue.
Sincerely,
Karl Kennedy.

P.S.,
I also have other water leaks that I will share, with photos in another post. :-D

[dean]

Karl,

Thanks for replying to my earlier post.  In reading yours I couldn't help seeing that you are in Barrie.  Could there be a possibility we have the same builder?  I am in London and they also do homes in Barrie and Kitchener.  Not sure if I should name them in this public forum, what do you think?

Dean

[Karl_K]

Probably not a good idea. I did check my builders website and they never have built out that way. I guess they all are quite the same when it comes down to it.

[Rod Johnson]

Sump pump systems are designed to remove ground water that accumulates in the hole your house has been built in. Water will accumulate based on several factors including the type of surrounding soil, depth of original excavation, size of the footprint of the foundation and the amount of ground water flow in the area; to name a few.

When a developer (not always the builder) purchases a piece of land to build homes on, they may or may not know of excessive water flow. The builders will usually purchase lots from the developer and start to make houses and money. Builders will build according to the building code because that is the least they can build at and still be able to sell the house. The building code is the minimum standard. It may not accomodated abnormal ground conditions, and they likely don't want to advertize problems. Most systems will collect the ground water as required. You need well built, big pumps.

The situation described here is excessive ground water movement. If the sump collects the water and functions correctly you should be fine.

However, if the power fails you may be in trouble. You may need a battery back-up system. The problem with them is that they don't come close to the volume an AC pump will pump. You might want two or move up to a sewage pump. One day I might put together a high output system for sale on the net, but that's another story.

If the existing AC pump you have dies on you, you will also be in trouble. I believe this instance is covered by home owner insurance policies, you need to check your own policy. To protect against this situation, you can install an additional AC sump pump in the same basin. Just set the float higher.

I recommend the Little Giant line of pumps because they use a diaphragm pressure switch that is pretty much foolproof. No float to get stuck and fail. I have seen them operate in sump pits that are completely clogged with roots and they are still working away with no problems. (Little Giant 10 CIA)

I will be putting a section in the main website for sump systems soon.

Rod Johnson :-)

[KArl]

Thanks Rod,
I found out a few things that I didnt know with your response. My question really is still the same, how do I manage the water to stop flowing towards my house. I do know I'm OK with the sump pump, and I already am in the works with buying a back-up system, however, the dilemma I have is the water mpups out the side, and it dumps it right in between my neighbours home and myself (maybe 8 feet between us) and I've read the disharge should be at least 10 feet away from your home. I have a drainage pipe, retrofitted on there now th divert the water down the side of our homes and onto the driveway which is OK, except I have a big ugly tube stick out from the side of my home and its constantly spewing out water. Am I just whining when I think there should be some other answer?...I have thought of putting weeping tile all orund my property like a big "u" shape and divert the water to the swales and hope that at least diverts more water away from the weeping tiles surrounding my home, which in turn gives my sump pump a much needed rest when its really not that bad out there. Then I could turn my attention to the other leaks I have in my home. Thats another posting though.
 :-D

[Rod Johnson]

Unfortunately there isn't very much you can do for the overtime situation aside from proper grading of the property and good a quality lawn with a good root system (slows down the penetration of water into the soil during the winter months). Because the drain tile around the house picks up ground water that can be coming from a much greater distance that your own property, you will likely have to live with it.
I would recommend that you try to bury (just below the surface) the 4" sump discharge extension so it can extend a good distace from both your  house and you neighbours. At my house I have a nice long garden that the drain pipe is laying in. Shrubs and bushes hide the ugly pipe because I can't bury it in, there isn't enough grade to alow it to drain out completely.  :-)

[Karl_K]

Looks like you may be right Rod,
Its something I have been coming to terms with for awhile. Burns my butt that out of all the lots around and all the ones we could of chosen, we chose the problem child. As my family motto goes.."it figures"

I am still in touch with the city of Barrie to have some of our grading issues addressed. They have been pretty good. Did some work in Sept 05 so we shall see how that goes. They wont do the other side of my swales since the neighbour put up his fence. Again, it figures.

I did think of burying the pipe and leaving it out there permanent, however I was told that could be a bad idea, epecially if it freezes. I doubt I woul make an air tight seal on the connection from my house, just dont want the ground to lose anymore of its drainage.

I may ask the city to directly connect my weeping tile to the drain basin thats at the end of my propertty. I know its a no-no usually but I've been reading some cases in Canada where they have had exceptions where underground watersheds have proven to be a potential danger.

Worth a shot. Then I could concentrate on the new problems I have been having. I have had, leaks coming from the back of the house, right where the I-beams meet the foundation.

I'd attache photos, but cant seem to see where. Oh well. If I figure it out I will.

KarlK

[Rod Johnson]

To attach a picture, click on the "Additional Options..." text in the lower right side of the posting window. Make sure you size the picture before posting as a very large one will be deleted.
Thanks for posting in this topic.

[Trevor Hewitt]

Hi everyone, I was talking to a gentlemen who said people were looking for landscapers. If anyone is requiring a landscaper in the Orillia, Barrie, Horeshoe Valley area please feel free to contact myself Trevor Hewitt at (705)329-2596 or hewittslandscaping@hotmail.com. Thanks.

[Douglas]

     Just a thought to add to your research.  It seems to be that the foundation of the house is sitting in water and that it is exerting hydrostatic pressure sufficient to penetrate to voids and joints of the masonry foundation wall. Would it make sense to pump clay such as betonite, that expands upon moisture contact, into  the exterior grade surrounding the house?
     If you have tried application of interior membranes and other applied "waterproofing" to no avail, perhaps you should bite the bullet and excavate the exterior foundation wall, applying a spray rubber membrane or other tried and true water proofing system.  The foundation wall / footing joint, if it too is leaking, could be sealed with the application of a pressure injected grouting from the inside. This last item also works on water leaking up through cracks in the basement floor [especially when the contractor has not imbedded wire mesh reinforcement in the floor slab and/or not applied a 6 mil poly barrier below the poured floor].  Good luck.