Home and Auto Foundation Problems

**Bowser** · 03-29-2009, 08:50 PM

So I have water coming into my basement not from cracks in the walls, but up out of the floor itself. I have a sump pump and walls/drain ditch, so that isn't the problem. And of course, it's finished down there. It more than likely is one of three things -

1) Water just seeping up through my old ass floor

2) My drain pipe has busted and is leaking god knows what all under my house

3) My half bath downstairs is leaking something from somewhere, but it's not wet in there

I have a feeling this is going to get ridiculously messy and expensive. Any suggestions on how I go about solving this, as in who do I call first? Phobes came to mind, but I didn't think he was into foundation work......

LaChapelle · 03-29-2009, 08:57 PM

Is your water meter spinning like Clark Griswold's electric meter on Christmas Eve?

**Bowser** · 03-29-2009, 08:57 PM

Dry Basement installed my sump pump system. I'll probably start there with a call in the morning. Man this is going to suck.

**Bowser** · 03-29-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaChapelle

Is your water meter spinning like Clark Griswold's electric meter on Christmas Eve?

Dunno. Got one of those new fangled digital jobs that requires the portable reader hooked up to the house.

03-29-2009, 09:22 PM

Water doesn't flow up unless it has saturated everything and exhausted all paths of lesser resistance. You've got problems and you're right. It's not generally my thing.

Is it clean water or stinky? Check with the water dept to find out your usage first. If that's normal check with a plumber who owns a scope to check your main stack out.

Those steps are comparably cheap before calling out the foundation guys. I'm guessing your tile system is compromised.

**Bowser** · 03-29-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Water doesn't flow up unless it has saturated everything and exhausted all paths of lesser resistance. You've got problems and you're right. It's not generally my thing.

Is it clean water or stinky? Check with the water dept to find out your usage first. If that's normal check with a plumber who owns a scope to check your main stack out.

Those steps are comparably cheap before calling out the foundation guys. I'm guessing your tile system is compromised.

I'll start with those calls first. Gracias.

Inform the uneducated - "Tile System"?

**Bugeater** · 03-29-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

I'll start with those calls first. Gracias.

Inform the uneducated - "Tile System"?

I'm no expert, but I think that translates to "you're screwed".

**Bowser** · 03-29-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I'm no expert, but I think that translates to "you're screwed".

Well, let's hope my kid can give a good Valedictorian speech.

And really, this house is a perfect opportunity for Phobia and his crew to test their hands at demolition, if they wanted to try it out.

**Bugeater** · 03-29-2009, 10:01 PM

Just "accidentally" leave a space heater too close to the curtains, that'll fix it for sure.

**Bowser** · 03-29-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Just "accidentally" leave a space heater too close to the curtains, that'll fix it for sure.

Looks like I'm going to have to hack my wife's account and put this thread on ignore.

**rockymtnchief** · 03-29-2009, 10:09 PM

If you have a nearby river, lake, or canal that is running high you could be getting hydrostatic pressure from below. But this is probably something that you would've noticed before.

**Bowser** · 03-29-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockymtnchief

If you have a nearby river, lake, or canal that is running high you could be getting hydrostatic pressure from below. But this is probably something that you would've noticed before.

Yeah, nothing like that. The worst I have is that my neighbors behind me live elevated relative to my position, and I get all their runoff. I put in the sump pump system and a huge concrete patio in the backyard (when I moved in, there was a patio made of bricks), along with a plastic drainage pipe that I laid down that runs around to the front yard. Since the sump pump, I've had zero problems with water in the basement until now.

epitome1170 · 03-30-2009, 06:07 AM

How much water are we talking about?

Another possible situation, is that the ground water from rain/snow has oversaturated the soil below the floor slab. The pressure has thus been relieved itself by going through the concrete if an improper vapor reeruner was installed. (Most likely it was because in most residential units they use sub-par vapor reeruners or it is installed incorrectly.)

03-30-2009, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

I'll start with those calls first. Gracias.

Inform the uneducated - "Tile System"?

Simply corrugated pipe which runs around the perimeter of your foundation and dumps water into your sump basin.

**Skip Towne** · 03-30-2009, 06:37 AM

Do the smart thing.....move.

03-29-2009, 08:50 PM
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3341616	Foundation Problems So I have water coming into my basement not from cracks in the walls, but up out of the floor itself. I have a sump pump and walls/drain ditch, so that isn't the problem. And of course, it's finished down there. It more than likely is one of three things - 1) Water just seeping up through my old ass floor 2) My drain pipe has busted and is leaking god knows what all under my house 3) My half bath downstairs is leaking something from somewhere, but it's not wet in there I have a feeling this is going to get ridiculously messy and expensive. Any suggestions on how I go about solving this, as in who do I call first? Phobes came to mind, but I didn't think he was into foundation work......
Posts: 100,833

03-29-2009, 08:57 PM	#2
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	Is your water meter spinning like Clark Griswold's electric meter on Christmas Eve?
Posts: 8,588

03-29-2009, 08:57 PM	#3
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3341616	Dry Basement installed my sump pump system. I'll probably start there with a call in the morning. Man this is going to suck.
Posts: 100,833

03-29-2009, 09:22 PM	#5
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Water doesn't flow up unless it has saturated everything and exhausted all paths of lesser resistance. You've got problems and you're right. It's not generally my thing. Is it clean water or stinky? Check with the water dept to find out your usage first. If that's normal check with a plumber who owns a scope to check your main stack out. Those steps are comparably cheap before calling out the foundation guys. I'm guessing your tile system is compromised.
Posts: n/a

03-29-2009, 10:01 PM	#9
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6242680	Just "accidentally" leave a space heater too close to the curtains, that'll fix it for sure.
Posts: 70,443

03-29-2009, 10:09 PM	#11
rockymtnchief Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Crazys of Montana Casino cash: $10018968 VARSITY	If you have a nearby river, lake, or canal that is running high you could be getting hydrostatic pressure from below. But this is probably something that you would've noticed before.
Posts: 5,740

03-30-2009, 06:07 AM	#13
epitome1170 CP's Resident S.E. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $9562460	How much water are we talking about? Another possible situation, is that the ground water from rain/snow has oversaturated the soil below the floor slab. The pressure has thus been relieved itself by going through the concrete if an improper vapor reeruner was installed. (Most likely it was because in most residential units they use sub-par vapor reeruners or it is installed incorrectly.)
Posts: 891

03-30-2009, 06:37 AM	#15
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	Do the smart thing.....move.
Posts: 69,689