basement water

[sfabian]

I have a brick ranch built circa 1969. we were told on heavy rains that the basement gets water, but here in NE PA we just had 3 100 year storms in 21 months. I finished the basement, so I am frustrated that it;s been getting so wet. The basement itself had something of a b-dry system, a board that follows the perimeter of the walls directed to the sump pump. . .however, the water comes in when the water table comes above the foundation level so the water comes in through cracks (previously sealed - haha) in the middle of the floor extending 10 feet one way - 20 feet another. so the water just seeps up through the floor EVERYWHERE. The sump pump is only 15 inches deep which means it was probably not installed deep enough. Last year, I installed french drains outside (about 2-3 feet deep) diverting water away from the house, regraded parts of the yard and installed water diversion pipes that divert the gutter and downspout water away from the house. Oh, and a burm up by the road preventing road water to enter the yeard.

Outside of having french drains put inside (I do have a monolithic pour cement foundation), or having more sump pits & pumps installed (still a possibility), what do you think of trenches 1-2 inches deep in the floors along these cracks that lead to the sump pump? That way the water would pretty much stay in the trench to the sump pit forming little rivers, but preventing the water from going above the floor line (foundation floor is about 8 inches thick poured concrete).

Thoughts, suggestions, boats appecriated!!

Scott Fabian
East Stroudsburg PA

[TJ1962]

Quite possibly system can not handle the amount of water fast enough. Depending on what is under floor: sand or gravel, water will seek a level and will travel to area of least resistance. A larger pipe diameter or maybe 2 sump pumps may be needed.