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How can I effectively drain foundation water along the sump pail location?

Home Improvement Asked by user124414 on December 21, 2020

In my crawl space I dug out the perimeter to about 3 inches below the footings. I then laid rock and installed perforated drain with sock to keep out debris and laid rock on top.

I dug a hole for the sump basin in the corner at the lowest point. Heavy rain came before job was completed and realized the majority of the water is coming in where the hole was dug for the basin. Started second-guessing if the basin should have been placed in that corner and that close to footer. How can I get water into basin?

There is no perforated drain in that corner. I was planning to attach drain pipe into each side of the basin leaving the side closest to the wall with no drainage pipe. How can I get the water from that corner into the basin? Thinking now that I should move the basin in about 2 foot and perforate the basin at the top so the water can drain into basin from that corner. Appreciate any thoughts any one has on this.

2 Answers

From you question and follow on Comment, it appears that the location of the sump pump is at the right location. It’s at the lowest point and after the heavy rain, the sump hole filled with water. From your descriptions, it appears that you believe the sump basin is sealed therefore not allowing water into the basin.
From your original question –

There is no perforated drain in that corner. I was planning to attach drain pipe into each side of the basin leaving the side closest to the wall with no drainage pipe. How can I get the water from that corner into the basin? Thinking now that I should move the basin in about 2 foot and perforate the basin at the top so the water can drain into basin from that corner.

If the location is the lowest point in that corner, there is no need to move it closer to the corner. Continue with connecting the drain pipes to each side of the basin. If your basin does not have holes in the bottom or in the sides, I would drill a few ½” holes in the sides and bottom and the top if you are using one. This will allow the ground water to weep into the basin. You can also wrap the side and bottom with screening to prevent dirt from entering the basin. I would using screen on the top also to prevent debris from entering the basin.
Dig the hole a little larger than the basin, and surround the bottom and sides with 3-4 “ of drain rocks.

Here’s a link to a YouTube Video showing a similar installation. I would use drain or crushed rocks on the sides of the basin as well.

Answered by Programmer66 on December 21, 2020

Programmer66 has some good suggestions. Some others:

  • Be sure the entire area around the sump basin, including where the perforated pipes connect, is immersed in washed rock (all the way to the footings in the corner). This essentially creates one large drainage area, and any water should find its way into the pipe without any further puncturing of the sump pail.
  • Consider adding a pipe stub out the pail into the corner. Wrap the end with fabric and surround it with washed rock. This would leave a shorter path and less water accumulation. If there's room you could tee this off the existing pipe, or cut a new hole at the same height as the others.
  • Think of the entire trenched area as a drainage basin and don't worry too much if the water has a circuitous path to the basin. As long as it has a path below floor level it shouldn't be a problem. If you have water flowing in so quickly that it doesn't drain you probably have issues that a sump pump can't reliably handle anyway.

Answered by isherwood on December 21, 2020

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