Originally Posted By: gbattaglini This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Looking for some clarification on Sump Pumps.
I am inspecting a 2 yr old home tomorrow and it has a sump pump in the basement.
Has the builder put it there to aid in the dispersing of water from the perimeter drainage system or because of a high water table in the area and they need to get rid of the high water to prevent hydrostatic pressure.
BTW there is a crack in the basement floor…I do not know the dimension and I am guessing at this time that it might have been due to hydrostatic pressure.
Any help would be appreciated.
-- Guy Battaglini
Home Buyer's Inspection Services Inc.
Originally Posted By: rcloyd This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Guy:
As mentioned in your post, the builder may have installed the sump pump to aid in draining the perimeter foundation or because of a high ground water table or both. Check the sump pump drain pipe termination to make sure that is it flowing freely and terminates at least 5' from the outside of the foundation wall.
It is hard to say why a crack may be in the slab. Check the width of the crack. If it is not greater than 1/16" and exhibits no signs of differential settling, it is probably a common crack. As a H.I. I would refrain from guessing at the cause of the crack.
Originally Posted By: dhadler This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
have a crack in them. Even if it’s only two years old.
As for sump pumps, certain areas of our city and certain styles of homes like walk-out basements etc. are required by our city to be installed. I think they are just covering their back sides if and when the water tables rise, which they usually do the longer the area is developed. eg. Underground sprinklers....
Was there water standing in the sump? or was it dry? If it was bone dry you can probably bet it was put there as a local building code. Just give your city hall building inspector a quick call... they'll usually tell you.
-- Darrell Hadler
Five Star Home Inspections
Medicine Hat, Alberta CANADA