I cannot for the life of me figure out why the Washington County building codes do not require sump pumps in all "New Construction". All that is called for is either a sump pump and or a "French Drain". Some of you might have seen me on the front page of the Herald Mail on September 5, 2003 cleaning up water in my basement, in my Whispering Hills home located in Smithsburg. Well it happened again, last night when we got pounded with rain. My builder Doug Bachtell / New Era Homes & excavaiting, keeps on making promises but it has been almost 3 years since we moved in and the first flodded basement and nothing they have done or said they would do has worked. All of this could have been prevented if a sump pump was required to be installed. I am getting tired of the builder not being responsible for thier poor work. Laws and regulations need to be put into place to protect the home buyer. I mean there are "Lemon Laws" for car buyers why can't there be laws for houses? I couldn't sell my house and move, because no one will buy it when I have to disclose that the basement gets water in it. I can't even finish my basement because of the water. What a way to live the American Dream of Home ownership!!

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Wow, what a mature responce! Nice to see that you can link pictures. Will you graduate to actually typing down words next time?

I assume you have a French Drain? They aren’t maintenance free, so it may need cleaned (if you have one).

My basement is a lil damp, but not as bad as yours thank GOD... Do you have a dehumidifier running down there? Since i have been using my DH, its made a huge difference.

That area has always had a low water table. You should have looked into the area
a little more. (not trying to be sarcastic.) I`m sorry you have a problem with water. Keep calling the builder and then contact the county inspectors plus the better business office. My daughter moved into a new subdivision all the houses have sump pumps installed in them.

The only problem is the french drain runs into a drain field under the ground so there is no access to the pipes, unless I dig up my yard and or around my fondation. and yes I do have a dehumidifier running, helps dry everything up after I suck up the water with a shop vac.



McGee-
We did look into the area quite well. We talked to several people that had lived there for a number of years. None of my neighbors have had any problem with water like I have. Yes some do get damp walls, but not inches like in mine. The county inspectors office has done nothing for me, and I have registered complaints withthe BBB and the MD States Attorney's office to no avail.

I know it sucks that we can only link pics...I would much rather post them in the thread...it's much funnier that way.

Greedy,

Pretty crass, IMO. The guy has a cserious problem, and wanted to vent a bit -- which is part of what the forums are for -- and your response is pretty sad. You find the problems of others "funny". How nice. May you reap what you sow.

piratefins, have you not had a sump pump installed?

We had one put in after we purchased our home. Of course shortly after that we realized that all of the excess water was from the downspouts needing extensions to keep the water away from the foundation. So we got the extenders for a few dollars, and basically spent thousands on a sump pump that will never be used....LOL

I wish I could give you mine!

1.Why 2 different threads about no sump pump?

2.Why go years without fixing it yourself?
You still can try to get the money it cost from the builder.

3.I have been reapin' all my life...

4.I gave some good replies in the other thread...

5.I was holdin' back.

6.If pf wants to fix it him/her self I will help.You in?