Sumps/Drainage

[Craig44]

My friend has a water issue in his basement.He believes that the solution is to remove his sump and patch over the existing window wells (set at grade,corrugated aluminum semi-circle with a 1.5" pipe feeding the crock through the wall).He doesn`t believe me when I tell him that this will/could cause his basement floor to heave or foundation wall to crack. He doesn`t think that the hydrostatic pressure that will/could build-up is possibly strong enough to do that.I tried to tell him that those wells are redirecting the water by collecting it to the crock and then the sump empties this into the takeaway pipng that then flows into the storm water system.He just believes that the water will "flow around" the house.
So,I told him if he didn`t believe me that patching and removing was a bad idea I would submit for others opinions.

Any and all suggestions helpful.

 

[beej67]

Is this an engineering question or a communication question?

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[Craig44]

Beej67,
The question is..... is removing the sump system problematic to the point of compromising the foundation? Other than creating/suggesting some elaborate trench drain system,which is cost prohibitive,I`m looking for an alternative. If one is not to be found than the option of removing what is already in place would be foolish.

 

[PEDARRIN2]

Direct him to a basement foundation repair company's website.

They usually have pictures of what happens when you create a boat out of your basement foundation.

 

[beej67]

The question is..... is removing the sump system problematic to the point of compromising the foundation?

The appropriate answer to that, without any further info or investigation, is somewhere between "maybe" and "probably," followed closely by "why risk it?"

If it were me, I'd tell him to imagine what would happen if someone dropped his house in a lake. Then I'd ask him if he thinks it'd float.



Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[Craig44]

Thanks everyone. Sometimes it takes someone else to say it. It will hard for him to mount a defense against 3 people with varying degrees of experience with soils all coming from the same direction.Hopefully the house doesn`t become a boat.

 

[msquared48]

Tell him to invest in one life preserver for each of his family members.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[fattdad]

direct answer, "The foundation will not be compromised." The basement slab may fail and ultimate stability may be realized only after a few inches of ponded water develop in the basement. I don't think this is a foundation issue.

f-d

¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

 

[oldestguy]

Another source of information is an insurance agent with many clients in the same area. Very likely they will be willing to share some their claim information. They ain't pretty.

In his case, it is very likely any damage will not be covered since he has been warned by engineers, or also, an unengineered job will not fly with the insurance co.

 

[emmgjld]

My Father used to suggest the installation of a diving board in the stairwell.

 

[oldestguy]

This also in in the general category of "do you jet the fill in the attached garage to "settle" it?".

Once a contractor finds this method sometimes caves in the wall, he becomes educated.