Sump pump

[Gary Schering, II]

On todays inspection, the sump pump had no inlet pipes, cut outs coming into the sump? How is the water going to get into the sump? I think the builder didn't connect the piping?
Any comments?

NBHI

[Russell W. Meyers]

Gary,
What was the pit material? Were the walls perforated? Was there water in the pit?

[Gary Schering, II]

No water. Just a solid piece of plastic.

[Russell W. Meyers]

Gary,
Write er up!! If it is new construction, there definitely needs to be an explination by the contractor as to how the foundation drainage system is intended to function. If there is natural gravity drainage from the site, then this may be part of a backup rough-in installation. Like you however, I would still expect to see some pipe connections.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by nbhi

No water. Just a solid piece of plastic.

A solid bucket with no holes whatsoever?

Sounds incomplete to me.....

[Timothy J. Lower]

I agree there's something wrong here. I have yet to see a sump pump w/o a drain tube/pipe in a plastic sump well. Call it out. Report on what you see. Just out of curiosity was this on the same home (35 yrs. old) you inspected the other day? Did it look like it had been installed recently? New or Used? What I am getting at is this may have been a home owner project that became too much for them to complete. I have ran into this situation before. Homeowner had a water pipe break inside the basement and decided that it would be a good idea to try and install a sump pump themselves in their basement just in case this were to happen again and then relized they got in a little over thier heads and was left incomplete. Sounds just about the same as the one your looking at. If you have a pic. post it and we can take a look at it.

[Michael S. Lopezi]

They may have the bottom of the liner out and put in small rock?

[Marc D. Shunk]

Originally Posted by nbhi

On todays inspection, the sump pump had no inlet pipes, cut outs coming into the sump? How is the water going to get into the sump? I think the builder didn't connect the piping?
Any comments?

NBHI

Was this pump indeed for foundation drainage, or was it maybe for the washing machine?

[Gary Schering, II]

Here is a pic

Attachment 18703

[Jack L. Gilleland]

Gary,
Looks like they put it in for surface drainage. Looks like its been dry for a while, even with the amount of water we've had.

[Mark Jones]

I would recommend they have a plumber come out and take a look at it or the builder if it's a newer house. The pipe may be there but someone forgot to cut out the hole for it. Unless as mentioned above it may be an ejector pit for the washing machine to drain into.

[Gary Schering, II]

This is not for the washer. Its in another location of the home.

[Timothy J. Lower]

Originally Posted by jgilleland

Gary,
Looks like they put it in for surface drainage. Looks like its been dry for a while, even with the amount of water we've had.

Gary, I would have to agree agree with Jack on this one this would be used as a surface drain only, if not you would have holes in the side or bottom of the box for inlets for drains or ground water. Here are some pics to show you what I mean. I hope this helps.

[Gary Schering, II]

Tim
There is a surface drain already in this room, ac condensation removal.

This is appears to be for footer/perimeter drains.

[Timothy J. Lower]

Originally Posted by nbhi

Tim
There is a surface drain already in this room, ac condensation removal.

This is appears to be for footer/perimeter drains.

hmmmm.....??? Clearify if you could.... Is there a Condensation pump for the a/c and a Surface drain (meaning another sump pump)? Is there two sump pumps then??? If so the only thing I could suggest doing (Not you of Course) is to pull the pump, dig out the gravel and debris at the bottom of the well, and see if there are holes drilled or molded into the bottom or bottom edge of the sump well. This will be the only way to tell if this was intended for ground water. Same with the other one if there is one. I personally find it a little strange to have two sump pumps though. Unless the floor looks like this /\ .