Simplest fix for a wet basement?
 

When it rains, we get water in our basement. It isn't a lot, but a couple inches in the deep spots is enough to make a mess. If I keep the gutters clean, it takes a lot more rain to cause problems, and I've addressed the general humidity issues with a dehumidifier, and so it's been kind of back-burnered.

Then I decided to get A/C. The inside part of the system should clearly go in the basement, but I don't really have a drain that's low enough to catch the condensation from the cooling coils.

So I'm thinking I should put in a sump pump and kill two birds with one stone. I know that the right way to put in a sump involves cutting a lot of trenches in the floor and setting up drains that all point to the sump, but that's a lot of work for a "while you're in there" sort of project. I also hate to put a bunch of effort into the floor, because the long-term goal for the basement is to dig it down several more feet and add some finished space down there.

I'm considering just cutting a hole and putting the sump pump in it -- not very sophisticated, and it probably wouldn't help with the wet basement at all, but I'd be able to dump the condensate in there, anyway.

Thoughts? Is there a simple solution that I'm just not seeing?

Thanks,
Dan

Sump pump will probably get rid of the wet basement.
I would first check the slope of the area around the house. Does the water drain back to the foundation?
Make sure the downspouts from the gutters run out from the house.
Is there a high water table where you live? A sump pump will lower water level and you basement should stay dry.
The condensate drain from the a/c unit can also be pumped via a small pump (look up Little Giant pumps) to your sewer drain.
Some cities do not allow sump pumps to discharge to the sewer drain. It must be pumped back outside. This also makes sense if you are on a self contained septic system or field.
The a/c in the house will also help dry it out, but the dehumidifier will probably still be needed for at least a while.

If your condensate drain is your main issue, how about a simple reservoir that sits on the floor with a sump pump or Little Giant type pump with float to use as a transfer pump. Not really necessary to cut a hole in the floor to install sump pump if you don't have any drains to fill up the sump. 2 pump redundancy is always a good idea as one will eventually fail.

Probably won't meet code though.

If you don't want to deal with the water problems now, use a 'condensate pump', which is pretty much what Randy describes built into a package.

Is the water coming from the walls or the floor?
Is there stone under the concrete?
How old is the foundation/house?
Bill has alot of good points, especially inspecting the leaders, and making sure the grade flows away from the foundation. You should also extend the leaders.

Don't connect your condensate pump or sump pump to the sewer system.

FWIW, I installed a french drain across the back of our property. Made a huge difference to how many times the sump pump kicks on.

They make condensate pumps for A/C systems installed in "funky" locations. It consists of a small reservoir with what looks like a bilge pump from a boat. A/C kicks on, fills the reservoir, float switch turns on pump, condensate is moved outside via pvc pipe.

You would want a separate pump for your flooding issue.

Call a waterproofing contractor and have them take a look at your basement. If experienced enough, they will able to tell you with a quick look where your water is coming from.

Condensate pump is probably the best simple idea. Looks like the small end starts about $150ish, which isn't at all bad.

The water is coming up from below, typically, but sometimes comes through the walls. I suspect that, beneath the foundation, it's just dirt, not rock. The house was built in 1927, so it doesn't exactly meet modern code for drainage. : )

Yeah, a french drain would be a great idea, but the expense is a little daunting. ... Much like the expense of actually installing a proper drainage system in the basement, really.

Thanks for the ideas. : )

Dan

I'm with Paul k.

Trenching around the house and putting in drainage tile to move water away from the foundation can work wonders

positive slope around the home, extended rain water leaders, sump pump. All good.

If the house was built in 1927 it probably has no weeping tiles.

Is it a stone & mortar foundation?

If so, the water in the soil comes up against the stones and works it way inside.

As mentioned, sloping the grade away, extending downspouts, ect will help with the water but if you want to stop it completely you will have to dig down to the foundation. Clean the wall off. Put a weeping tile system in next to the foundation covered with rock. Then tar/sealant for the walls. Then waterproof barrier. More tar/sealant. Then backfill.

A newer home will have a connection under the foundation to the weeping tiles where the sump pump is located. This brings the water that is up against the basement wall in to the sump and it is then pumped away from the building. Expensive to retrofit but it can be done by concrete drilling a hole thru your footing below the basement floor grade and connecting the weeping tiles to your newly planned sump pump.

As this is your plan for the future

"I also hate to put a bunch of effort into the floor, because the long-term goal for the basement is to dig it down several more feet and add some finished space down there."

I would suggest extending to gutter drains and live with the water. Save your money and hire someone to lift the house and put a new basement underneath. It is a lot easier to do it right when it's all new than retrofitting.

Move to the local trailer park; no basements there and your problem is solved. :D

Best answer yet. : )



Thanks for the advice, all. Looks like I'll be setting up a condensate pump and making sure my gutters and leaders are in good shape.

Dan

That was meant to be in green, I am glad you saw the intended humor.

1927..... Without visual inspection it's tough to call from behind my keyboard.... ;)

But if it isn't a large basement, and probably hand mixed & thin, it may be worth it to bust up the existing floor, add some stone, install a sump pit and leave a gap around the outside of the new floor to channel any weeping from the walls to the new pit.

A new foundation is going to be very expensive. And going deeper may worsen the water problem, depending on your local soil conditions.

In any case, make sure the new furnace/air handler is raised off of the floor. You can set it on 4 concrete blocks to get it off of the floor.

Lot's of good information here:

Basement Waterproofing Information and Estimates | Wet Basement Contractors


We went with these guys and the house is guaranteed not to leak for the life of the house. We also have a sump pump.

simplest?

Its not a wet basement, Its an indoor swimming pool!