A1’s professional integrity was on display again this past week. This time their customer was being advised to spend a boat load of money on a sump pump installation where a simple crack repair was all that was needed. Adam reflects on another tale that underscores the need to get a second opinion when it comes to foundation crack repair and basement waterproofing.
Narrator: It's time once again for the CrackMan podcast hosted by A1 Foundation Crack Repair. I'm Darren Kincaid and I'm here with the Crack Daddy himself, Adam Tracy. Adam has 20 years of experience in the construction industry and as a civil engineer is A1 Foundation's resident engineer on staff, solving a plethora of unique foundation problems every day. This podcast provides expert basement waterproofing, concrete repair, and preventative maintenance tips for homeowners and businesses. A1 Foundation's valuable insight will help prevent the disaster of a flooded basement, health problems due to water infiltration, and protect your biggest investment, your home. The topic of today's podcast: How A1 saved a homeowner thousands on an unnecessary sump pump installation.
Narrator: So, Adam, A1's professional integrity was on display again this past week, right? This time, a homeowner was being advised to spend a boatload of money on a sump pump installation when a simple crack repair was all that was needed, right?
Adam: Yeah, this is a classic example of potentially being sold a solution without actually thinking about what the problem was in this particular homeowner's house.
This was a property out of Worcester, Massachusetts. The homeowner contacted us about installing a sump pump because he had been getting quotes and said, "Yeah, it's getting very expensive. I need to understand if I'm getting a good deal or not."
So, we reached out and started asking questions about what was going on, what kind of foundation problems he was having, and what kind of water issues he was dealing with. We install sump pumps all the time, and they're great devices, but they're not always the right solution for the right problem. We were really trying to figure out what the actual issue was.
After a few discussions, along with some photo and video sharing from the last major rain event, we found out that he had a section along the floor-to-wall seam—where the basement floor meets the foundation wall—that was about 12 to 14 inches wide. During heavy rain, there would be a puddle about the size of a dinner plate.
I asked him, "How often does this happen?"
He said, "Oh, it's only during really bad storms or if it's been raining for a long time. If we get a bad thunderstorm through here, a hurricane comes through, or during the snowmelt in early spring, that's when I see a little bit of water coming in."
I asked, "Has it ever been worse than this?"
He replied, "No, this is as bad as it gets."
I thought about it for a little while and said, "Well, I don't know if a sump pump is going to be the right choice here."
The way a sump pump works is by relieving water pressure from beneath the basement floor. That pressure can come from a perched water table under the house or, in some cases, the natural water table. Most homes actually deal with a perched water table, which acts like a bowl of water beneath the foundation that rises and falls depending on rainfall and other water events.
That hydrostatic pressure can force water through the floor-to-wall joint, cracks in the floor, around pipes, or other openings.
But this case was different. It was clearly tied to major rain events and only leaked in one small area under very specific conditions. That told me the homeowner wasn't dealing with a consistently high water table under the house. Instead, there was simply a small breach in one section where water could get in.
So I advised the homeowner, "Rather than spending thousands and thousands of dollars on a sump pump system that may not even be necessary, let's try a much lower-cost solution first."
The recommendation was an injection repair. We drill into the foundation, install mechanical fittings along the wall-to-floor seam, and inject a waterproofing resin that seals the joint from the inside.
It's a warrantied repair, it's highly effective, and it's especially well suited for situations where only a limited amount of water is entering through a localized area.
We completed the repair, and shortly after another storm rolled through, the homeowner called us.
He said, "You know, this has been great. I haven't seen a drop of water since."
I told him, "If water ever starts coming in from other areas in the future, a sump pump solution is always available down the road. But for now, we've solved the problem."
He hasn't had a drop of water since.
It's a great success story and another example of why it's important to diagnose the actual problem instead of automatically recommending the most expensive solution. Selling a larger system might look good on paper for a business, but if it's not the right fix for the customer, then it's not the right recommendation.
Our goal was to solve the problem—not simply sell the biggest job.
So, in the end, we had another happy customer whose basement stayed dry.
Narrator: Well, thanks, Adam, for sharing another story that underscores the importance of getting a second opinion when it comes to foundation crack repair and basement waterproofing.
Narrator: If you have a basement water problem and think you need a professional, or if you like more information on foundation crack repair and basement waterproofing topics, please visit A1foundationcrackrepair.com or call Adam at (866) 929-3171, or you can email Adam at info@a1foundationcrackrepair.com. Thanks for listening and keep that basement dry.