Expert: Daniel Humphrey - 12/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: The house is being built in CT and just before closing, after heavy rain, the water was coming trough sump pump pit and pump was install on time.House next door got about 1 inch of water in basement. We don't know what to do, closing is scheduled within few days.

ANSWER: Maria,

Sorry to hear about the water coming in. As long as the sump pump is working, it should stay relatively dry--at least it won't be an inch deep. But get everything up off the floor, just in case. I would recommend getting some blocks of 2x4 for putting under heavy things. That gives you an air space so that the floor will dry.

If the water leak is more than the pump can keep up with, you might need to  grout the cracks and install perimeter drains and pumps as well. Whatever the case you should be able to find a solution.

Basements leak at different rates, and I hope yours is tighter than your neighbor's.

Good luck, and I hope it stops raining.

Daniel

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much for answer but I am wondering if it was something done in wrong way or neglected and this is why water is getting in at all. Was there anything possible to be done in order to prevent that? I know it is hard question without seeing property.

Answer
Dear Maria,

Sometimes water gets in, in spite of good workmanship.

I recommend having a building engineer come take a look at the house, just to get an objective third party and a scientific approach to solving any problems.

Here is a checklist for you, regarding water incursion, so you can ask most of the right questions:

1. Does the surface water drain away from the building?
2. Is the ground water intercepted on the perimeter and drained or pumped?
3. Is the concrete constituting the floor and walls sealed from the outside by a waterproof coating or membrane?
4. Are all expansion joints caulked or grouted?
5. Does the floor slope toward the sump?
6. Are the sump volume and pump capacity a proper match?

I hope his helps.

Daniel