do I need sump pump or drain tile?

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Qwertyjjj

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I was replacing the sewage ejector basin this weekend.
To do so, I had to remove the existing one and re-dig a little bit so there was a 3ft hole in the ground. On leaving it overnight, it filled up with water to around 2ft but stayed stable at that depth.
I'm re-concreting around the basin but am worried that this is quite a high water table - it is spring though with snow melt season.
The water has never ever come through the concrete into the converted/liveable basement area but worried that it is very close to the concrete slab of the house.
Do I need a sump or have to install french drains around the concrete grade of the house?
 

Reach4

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I think you still have the concrete torn up. I would consider putting in another basin or sump liner. Just below the concrete, there is usually a layer of gravel. I would note that level, and drill a bunch of 3/16 holes at that level. I would put the liner in place. If you ever see water enter the sump liner, I would add a sump pump. Maybe put that in place before you detect water, just in case.

I actually did this, and it was very effective in my case. Maybe that was because the gravel was pea gravel instead of the more common crushed stone. I drilled some holes lower than the gravel layer, but it was suggested that I ended up pumping more water than necessary. So I would do my drilling higher.

I would plug the sump pump into an outlet -- ideally on an dedicated circuit. I would not run that power through a GFI or AFCI breaker myself, even if it might be against a rule. I am not a pro.
 

Cacher_Chick

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How old is the house, and how long have you lived there? It will only become a problem if the level rises higher than the footing, but we have no way to know if that will happen. Given our current weather trends, putting in a sump pit like Reach mentioned would not add much to the job you are working now.
 

Qwertyjjj

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Cabin is about 40 years old, never been flooded but there is a river nearby that gets high this time of year.
There is a hill behind the house but ultimately there`s still a slope down to the river so water should run away but lots of clay in the soil also.
Could be moisture/humidity getting in temporarily somewhere but difficult to say.
I can't put a sump liner in next to the sewage liner as it's such a small crawl space that it would be impossible to dig. The "room" is underneath some stairs so the only space is near the end and I wouldn't be able to stand to dig.
There is a shed outside with concrete floor that I could put a sump in but would this cover the whole house (say 25ft x 2ft) if at is towards one side of the house rather than the middle of the house?

Lastly as there is a slope, not sure if putting in French drains would help at all...
Isn't concrete impermeable to water?
 

Cacher_Chick

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You don't have a basement to flood, and the crawl should have a barrier such as poly to separate the moisture in the soil from the structure. Unless there is a really good reason to pump the water down lower, there is no reason to invest in what it will take to do it.
 
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