Leaking underground water spout
cresida81 said:
One of our underground water spouts must have a small crack. When our gutter person poured water with a hose, a small amount of water began to leak through the basement wall. We have made the same observation after heavy rains. If you know of the honest right person or company to fix this problem please let us know. Our house is about 90 years old. Thanks in advance for your help
Do you mean the leaders that drain water from the gutters?
How long have you lived in the house? As you mention that it occurs when after heavy rains, this could be due to clogged leaders, could be due to poor grading, could be due to a rising water table.
Yes lead that drains water from the gutters. Leaders were cleaned and checked for obstruction by pouring water down the spout, observing a trickle of water in the basement. This is a new issue.
Could also be a rising water table issue. Depending on where you live, underground streams are common in our area. Water then comes up through the floor. If this only happens after heavy rains, rising water table could be contributing to the problem.
except cresida has already said the water is coming in through the wall, and it came in while testing the roof gutters, forcing water through the down spouts.
cresida, are those clay pipes that are underground?
The good news, such as it is, is that the leak is probably close to the house so they wouldn't have to dig up too much. Is the leak close to where the downspout goes into the ground?
And sorry, but I have no recs for someone who could fix it. Have you asked your gutter person?
drummerboy said:
except cresida has already said the water is coming in through the wall, and it came in while testing the roof gutters, forcing water through the down spouts.
cresida, are those clay pipes that are underground?
The good news, such as it is, is that the leak is probably close to the house so they wouldn't have to dig up too much. Is the leak close to where the downspout goes into the ground?
And sorry, but I have no recs for someone who could fix it. Have you asked your gutter person?
Thank you Drummerboy you got it.The house is about 90 yrs old, so I am sure they are clay pipes. Sorry that you do not have recommendations, but thanks again for your comments.
Is there any way you can take the leader out of the clay pipe? Put an elbow on the bottom and let the water run away from the foundation? That would be a temporary fix, if you want to replace the underground clay pipe.
Most people just abandon those pipes and do what jaytee said. Lead the water away from your foundation a few feet. It's pretty cheap to get an elbow and a length of downspout, or you can get a flexible plastic gizmo to put on.
Jaytee said:
Is there any way you can take the leader out of the clay pipe? Put an elbow on the bottom and let the water run away from the foundation? That would be a temporary fix, if you want to replace the underground clay pipe.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. It would also confirm that there's a leak underground.
Though my guess is that you'd have to cut the leader to do this.
drummerboy said:
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. It would also confirm that there's a leak underground.
Though my guess is that you'd have to cut the leader to do this.
Unless it’s a single straight run, it might be connected by couple screws.
those clay pipes become solidly clogged with dirt. I had to abandon mine also. It’s a relatively easy fix.
This:
FilmCarp said:
Most people just abandon those pipes and do what jaytee said. Lead the water away from your foundation a few feet. It's pretty cheap to get an elbow and a length of downspout, or you can get a flexible plastic gizmo to put on.
I once fixed the situation for a friend who had all four corner underground leads clogged resulting in a LOT of water on the basement floor and she did not want to have them all dug up and replaced. When I cut the bottoms of the four downspouts I could see that they where solidly clogged with masses of small roots and dirt (we'll never know for how far or also broken).
I simply put four of those black plastic flexible "elephant trunks" on the downspouts and problem of flooding was resolved.
Might not be the most aesthetically pleasing in all cases but it works.
One of our underground water spouts must have a small crack. When our gutter person poured water with a hose, a small amount of water began to leak through the basement wall. We have made the same observation after heavy rains. If you know of the honest right person or company to fix this problem please let us know. Our house is about 90 years old. Thanks in advance for your help