Interesting Question?

[John McKenna]

Just had an interesting question posed? What is your thoughts?

Question:
I own an older home (1902)...About 6 years ago the crawlspace just started filling up with water. I have two sump pumps to keep the water out. I have paid 3 plumbers to find a problem and they can find none. I paid an excavator to dig up around the foundation and the main drain and he said everything was fine. We had a 4 ft deep hole around the house and it never filled with water. This has been going on for 6 years and the walls are starting to bow out and the siding is all buckled. It's a beautiful house but its suffering from being in water constantly. My question is what should I do?

[klott]

Could be built on top of a spring.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Is it natural water or could it be town water ?
..... Cookie

[John McKenna]

At this point, I have given them the following answer...
(I really feel sorry for these folks and the problem they are having,
because the estimated cost of repairs will be in the tens of thousands of dollars
and they have not even begun to deal with stopping the moisture source
or the mold issue yet.)

My response:

It would seem that your first priority is to find and correct the source of the water under your foundation. It could be from an underground moisture migration, sprinkler lines, flower beds causing water traps, city water or sewage (or who knows what?).

If the moisture problem cannot be corrected, then all other repairs to the house will not do any good because the moisture will cause the problems to return.

Moisture problems under the foundation can be conducive to soil movement, mold, decay and wood destroying insects that are visible and sometimes not visible as the problems spread.

After you have identified the source of the water, with Professional help, then a plan of action can be put into acation. Do not attempt to divert the water without Professional help.

This is a very serious problem and I wish I had a simple answer for you, but there are too many things that are unknown from your limited statements at this time.

You need to seek a foundation company that employs engineers that are familiar with these types of repairs and issues. All work should be done with written warranties and only qualified Specialist. The mold issue can be harmful to your health, and indoor air quality, so please be careful to avoid possible exposure to mold. The structural issues need to be done, only after you have found a way to stop the moisture problems.

As to your legal questions about your mortgage, I cannot address that issue. I know you are in a difficult position of trying to deal with the "pain and expense vs the benefit". I am truly sorry to hear you have experienced such hardships.

Good luck and I hope this helps,

Thanks,
John McKenna

[dbronsted]

People here run into springs all the time digging basements. Im not sure what would be correct but the older builders route it somewhere downhill with a drain system and seal it up. Could you pump it out? Also could you put dye in the water to see where it is going? Maybe pump it out and cut the water at the street for a while and see if it refills? What a mess!

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by dbronsted

People here run into springs all the time digging basements. Im not sure what would be correct but the older builders route it somewhere downhill with a drain system and seal it up. Could you pump it out? Also could you put dye in the water to see where it is going? Maybe pump it out and cut the water at the street for a while and see if it refills? What a mess!

They said that they had 3 plumbers at different times trying to find the source
and they said there was no problem with the plumbing.

Who knows what it is? At this point, it seems that they liked my answer,
for what it was worth. I wish I knew more so I could help them.

[Charley L. Bottger]

If the area of TX that you are referring to has had as much annual rain fall as we have had up here this year you could very well be dealing with a spring that that the water level raise and lower with the water table. I have very similar problems in one of the towns I inspect in. One commercial building in particular was constructed over the top of a known free flowing spring. The engineers re-routed the water during the construction period and poured concrete troughs to allow the water to flow completely through the building. The building was constructed on the side of a hill so pumps were not installed just free flowing water. I about freaked out when observing this during the inspection as I had no previous knowledge of this spring.

My thinking would be springs/sink hole type situation in other words a big mess good luck

[gporter]

If there has been building around them water source (springs) have been moved towards their home like some have said here. I think it is a septic tank problem from the drain fields maybe. Just a shot in the dark

[Brian E. Kelly]

Have the water tested and see if it is chlorinated

[John McKenna]

All valid points... thanks.

After the water filters through the soil, then it may be hard to find any chlorine.
The problem did not start for the first 80 + years .... wow. what a suprise.