Darn french drain/sump pump system!

[GoofyTimL]

It was a dark and stormy night... but even though we had it bad, we haven't got it nearly as bad as many, many folks in the "real" mid-west who have suffered under this heavy rain in the last several days.

Nonetheless, last night nearly did me/us in... on the very last hard rain of these two days, my french drain/sump system failed me. In the matter of about 30 min (and unknowst to wife and me while we ate dinner), the sump pump's intake got partially clogged and reduced it's output by about 2/3-3/4 and before we could react (or even find out) we had 2" of water throughout out basement. It was sickening!

The good news is that we called a service and we were drying out again and relatively clean by 11 pm. We have two huge dehumidifiers from the service and about a dozen fans making the basement a bit like a wind tunnel. Nothing major, electrical or mechanical was lost. The biggest disappointment was ripping out the "floating flooring" (literally floating this time) that we've installed down there (in half the basement) over the past couple of years).

Insurance isn't goint to cover because 1) we're not in a flood zone, so flood insurance not available, and 2) such events are considered "acts of God" and as such aren't covered under homeowners. I will agree it was an act allowed by God, but God neither tempts, nor brings eviil to His children. Therefore... I hope I can figure out what I am to learn from this repeat "adventure" (from 4 years ago).

Anyhoo... this takes me out of the play to attend the Last Magnum event in Brampton next weekend. And just when I had asked to be on the list...

I asked that those who do go, give Chrysler, and everyone else a hug for me... until we can meet somewheres!

[Rambit]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck Tim. Our building code requires sump pumps. Mine's never turned on in any house I've ever lived in. The problem with that is the one and only time you're apt to need it, the damn motor is usually seized from lack of use. Of course you never know it till it's too late either.

Jeez, Emma and my daughter's dogs love it though. All I have to say is, "where's the hole", and they're off. They think there's a rat in the bottom..haha. Of course I make it worse by yelling "RAT'S!!!"

Good luck in the cleanup. Hey, didn't you put a bathroom down there a couple of years ago?

Bernie

[marlinspike]

Does your basement have steps leading to wherever it flooded from on the outside? I kow we always had flooding issues, and while we still had to put a sump there (there as in right in front of the door it floods from), that wasn't enough. My mom then had the idea of making a retaining wall in front of the steps and that seems to have helped.

[CUEBALL]

Man that sucks..... I never did like the fact Homeowner's insurance doesn't like to cover this kind of thing... that's why we buy insurance..

Hope it comes out non-odoriferous Tim...

[DaveW68]

Please allow me to suggest getting a sump pump battery back-up system. With having my basement finished, I would never live without it. It is the best insurance policy that you can get to protect yourself from your basement flooding due to a power loss, a sump pump that gives out, or a sump pump that can't handle the amount of water coming in. It fits right down in the same sump pit that your existing pump is in, although it doesn't have the same pumping capacity as your regular pump. It is for emergencies. I have a Watch Dog system and it has saved us more than a few times in the 4 years since we've finished our basement. It is a must for anybody who requires a sump pump and has a finished basement.

[GoofyTimL]

Yes, we expanded the bathroom downstairs a couple years ago. The problem was that the sump pump got partially blinded by leaves debris that somehow got into the sump bucket (the bucket is outsite to the left of the walk-out basement door. So the pump was working, just not flowing what it should have. No way to tell whether it could have prevented the disaster at full flow, but it certainly would have lessened the amount of water that got in.

The basement is drying nicely now and I think once it's dry and the cleaners come to clean the no-pad carpet we will be fine. We lost of floating flooring in the other side and in the bathroom, but that's far less trouble that losing electronics (sound system, hi-def 65" wide screen TV, computers, freezer, couches, etc.). And it absolutely is nothing compared to those in the "true" mid-west who have water up to their eaves as can be seen on weather channel reports.

All in all we're still blessed... just a little distressed at the moment... but not overwhelmed.

Thanks for your concern and suggestions!