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413 Shanley Street
Cheektowaga, NY 14206
Phone: 716-893-1939
Fax: 716-893-1756
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Discussion Topics
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Are Cracks in Basement Walls and Floors Normal? Should I Repair Them?
You just moved into your brand new home, or you have just moved into a previously owned home, and you discover cracks in the walls and floor that you overlooked during your preclosing inspection. My advice is don't panic.
Often basement wall and floor cracks are nothing more than hairline fractures caused by shrinkage due to the curing process of concrete. These cracks are usually insignificant. However, if these cracks leak water or if they appear to widen as time passes, it can be an indication of a developing problem.
Dry weather conditions, as we have had this past summer, can cause walls to crack due to the drying and contracting of soil under and around the wall footer (or foundation). The wetter weather conditions of fall not only increase the likelihood that newly developed cracks will leak water, but also create pressure on the walls due to the soil expanding as it absorbs water.
As this pressure intensifies, the walls can develop horizontal cracks, which indicate the wall is bowing or buckling. Bowing walls can be reinforced if they are attended to soon enough.
If a wall bowing condition is ignored for a period of time, it will eventually become necessary to replace the wall at a much greater expense and damage to exterior landscaping. We all have a tendency to procrastinate and ignore seemingly unimportant things such as cracks in the basement floor or walls.
Diagonal basement wall cracks should not be ignored. They usually indicate settlement (vertical or downward movement). If this type of condition is ignored for a period of time, it will lead to damage throughout the house and very expensive repair bills. Reinforcing the wall footers with steel piers, driven to bedrock or soil substantial enough to support the weight of the structure, will stop this downward movement. If footer repairs are made during the early stages of settlement, it will eliminate the potential for damage to upper areas of the house.
Almost all masonry walls and floors crack to some degree. The majority of these cracks are not structural problems and will never become a structural problem. However, if you notice changes in cracks in the floor or walls, contact a professional contractor for an inspection and analysis to determine the cause, and if necessary, a solution to the problem.
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What Is the Function of a Sump Pump?
The basic function of a sump pump is to keep the level of surface water lower than the basement floor. In some cases, sump pumps also are used to control the amount of water brought into the basement from the sewer backup.
Occasionally sump pumps are installed in yards to control flooding conditions outside the home. Another type of sump pump is a grinder pump, which is used in disposing of sanitary sewage.
The main intent and the most common use of a sump pump is to discharge water out of the basement that the drain tile system, which lies under the basement floor, has carried to the sump pit.
Many cities and towns require sump pumps to be installed at the time the house is built and/or before it is sold. In previous years, the drainage system under the basement floor would discharge its water into the basement floor drain, which in turn would carry the water into the sanitary sewer. The growth in population and expansion of home building lead to an overload of the sanitary sewage system due to storm water and sewage in the same pipeline. These conditions prompted a change in the plumbing codes that resulted in the mandatory installation of sump pumps and the disconnecting of surface water drain tiles from the sanitary sewer.
At this point, I should clarify the purpose of the drain tiles under the basement floor. The intent of this system is to pick up surface water that builds under the basement floor and around the foundation and carry it to a discharge point, which is a floor drain or a sump pump.
In some cases, sump pumps are installed next to basement floor drains that have a history of backing up. The intent is as the water backs out of the floor drain, it falls into the sump pit and the sump pump discharges the water outside. This is one way to control sewer backup but not necessarily the best way.
Sometimes the sewer will back up with a greater volume of water than the pump can handle, causing the pump to become overwhelmed and ineffective. Correcting this necessitates a high-capacity pump that would handle any volume of water that the sewer could possibly put into the sump pit. The alternative to pumping sewer backups is to prevent them by installing a gate valve (a manual shut-off valve) in the main sewer line.
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