Basement Floor

1790 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by jogr, Jun 2, 2009

Gardengirl

Discussion Starter · Jun 1, 2009

We built our home in 2000 and last Sept we had to replace the pump in the dedicated sump that drains the stationary tub and washer and is tied in to the floor drain. All is ejected up and out of the basement and into the leech field. Problem is when the pump fails the water comes up through the floor drain and floods the basement which is to be expected, but the water pools under the hot water heater, the basements stairs and in front of the steps. Does that mean that the basement floor is pitched wrong? and what can we do about it? Thanks.

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Ron6519

· #2 · Jun 2, 2009

What's a stationary tub? I worked in a house in upstate NY with a similiar setup. The washer emptied into a laundry tub which drained into a pump which pumped it up into the drain for the cesspool. If the pump didn't work, the laundry tub would overflow.
I think the issue would be to make sure the pump was working.
A solution to water backing up through the drain would be to install a backflow device on the drain. Water goes down, but not back up. You would need to break open the floor to get it in place.
Ron

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KHouse75

· #3 · Jun 2, 2009 (Edited)

So, does the water from the washer and stationary tub flood the basement or is the foundation drainage system tied into the sump basin as well?

If it's just the washer and stationary tub, you could plug the washer into a float switch in the sump basin so it turns off the power to the washer if the water level in the basin gets too high. The tub shouldn't be a problem since I'm guessing you wouldn't use it if the the pump was out.

Alternatively, you can install a battery backup pump in the basin so when the primary pump fails or the power goes out, the backup pump will take care of the water.

Unless you requested they pitch the entire basement floor to the drain, there shouldn't be any special pitch to the floor. The goal should be to get it as level as possible all the way around the basement but that's almost impossible. You're always going to have some low spots and high spots. Even a fraction of an inch low will cause the water to pool in that location.

I'd install a backup pump. I have a 3337 sq ft basement in a new house I'm building. Ground water is not a concern but just in case I installed 2 basins and just purchased a 1/2 HP primary pump with a 3300 GPH Wayne Emergency Battery Backup Pump Model #ESP25. Northern Tool currently has the ESP25 on sale online.

If it was me, I'd also remove the floor drain and seal the hole with hydraulic cement. I'd them install a water a few water sensors on the floor hooked to a shutoff valve on the water line coming into the house. This way, if you have a pipe burst, the sensors will detect the water and shut the main line off.

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yesitsconcrete

· #4 · Jun 2, 2009

seal the drain & the wtr that's now coming UP will find another pathway - probably THRU your conc floor,,, you need to break into the floor & pipe that water to the sump OR you-know-what will happen again & again,,, on the face, the rest of the advice seems sound :thumbup:

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jogr

· #5 · Jun 2, 2009

Gardengirl said:
Does that mean that the basement floor is pitched wrong? and what can we do about it? Thanks.

No, it quite obviously means the pump failed. Fix the pump.

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