[warrior327]

About a month ago I installed a sump pump in my crawlspace. I picked the lowest corner in the crawlspace that was taking in the most water. I dug out the sump pit basin hole about 8-10 inches away from the foundation wall, and the footer is approx. 6" below the top of the dirt floor. I dug down about 32-36 inches and put a few inches of gravel down and installted the sump pump which works correctly. My concern is that did I dig to close to the foundation footer to install the sump pump or is that distance okay or am I at risk of disturbing the soil around the footing?

If I am at risk could i just relocate the sump pit basin farther away and fill the hole back witht the original soil and tamp it down or fill it with quickcrete and add portland cement and rebar to strenghten it up?

Any advice would be helpul. Thanks

 

[warrior327]

Also the footing is anywhere from 6 to 10 inches deep, and I am thinking that I have disturebed the soil that is not suppost to touched for the footing. I have read that the bottom of the footer should start a 45 degree line outward and you should not dig into that.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,... For the tiny area of the pit, I doubt you'll have any problems,....

Are the grades outside the house, pitched Away from the house for 10' or better,..??

Most basement water issues are better fixed Outside, rather than inside the structure,....

 

[warrior327]

No, the slope around the house is not very good. With that being said here in the next few months I am going to pay a contractor to install permiter footer drain tile, regarde the property and install gutter drains to daylight for the purpose of taking care of the water from the issue from the outside.

I believe if I comprimised the soil that is not suppost to be undisturbed it wasn't by alot. Just has a diy guy worried cause it can cause issues with foundation wall. Through some reasearch I have found that most basement sump pump installs are only 6 to 8 inches away from the foundation wall.

 

[joecaption]

Where you have it is not going to be an issue, how you installed it is.
I would have at least installed the pump in a 5 gal. bucket with holes in the sides and used #57 stone around it.
Also should have made trenchs around the inside of foundation so the water would flow toward the sump pit.
I agree 100% with addressing the water issues on the outside.
Was the outside of the foundation water proofed?
Is the grade lower under the house then the outside?

 

[warrior327]

Thanks for the reply Joe

I installed the sump pump in a basin that was 18" wide x 28" deep with holes drilled on the sides and the bottom. I dug down 32-34 inches deep because of the depth of the basin and to place rock underneath the basin. Rock was placed under the basin and on the sides to improve drainage. The sump pump setup was designed as a temporary way to remove water until I can get a contractor out at my residence to install footer drain tile, and regrade the property. At the time this was installed we had two rains totaling 8-10 inches in just a few weeks, and were expecting another 7 inches of rain in a matter of two days which what we got turned out to be 10 inches of rain.

The top of the footer sits approximently 6 inches below the dirt floor, and i have no idea how big the footer is. Probably anywhere from 6 inches to 10 inches if I am guessing. The hole was dug in the corner and is approx 10 inches away. At the bottom of the footer to the bottom of the hole is approximently two feet. I was trying to make sure I didn't get into the undisturbed area for the footing. Really looking to be reassured on that. Once the footer drain tiles, gutters ran to daylight, and regrading is done I plan to take out the sump pump from the crawlspace and fill the hole back in. I just feel uncomfortable that I may not of got the proper distance away from the footer when I dug the hole to depth.

 

[warrior327]

I think the house was waterproofed when it was built, and the grade in the crawlspace is lower than the outside. When trenches are dug around the foundation to install footer tiles i am going to waterproof the foundation as well. It has developed cracks like most foundations and need to be resealed.

 

[warrior327]

I could also get in the crawlspace in the next day or two and take a picture if needed.

 

[warrior327]

I forgot to mention that when I stated it was in the corner that it was 8-10 inches away from two foundation walls, and I am hoping this small area that I dug down will not have any impact on the integrity of the footer on both foundation walls.

 

[warrior327]

I am not doubting tou joe, i was just hoping their might be a few more suggestion on how close i dug the hole next to the footer.