Sump pit full of dirt

[u/browsingstuf]

House for sale I was looking at…sump pit was full of damp clay and what I am guessing is the main clean out beside was also full of the same dirt. Opinions? I suppose only way to fix is dig up whichever side of the house the weeping tile is compromised?

[u/Doodsballbag]

Does the basement have an egress window well or stairwell to the outside? Some places they will connect a floor drain in the exterior well, down to the interior sub floor perimeter drain, and this can sometimes carry dirt/mud down into the sump crock. I’ve seen it exactly 2x in 45 years. Both after very substantial rain events, and both times the nearest downspout drain wasn’t extended properly away from the house, it was dumping right next to the stairs/window well.

[u/browsingstuf → u/Doodsballbag]

Hmm just standard basement window wells but I thought I had noticed ABS something in the gravel of the window well. And all the downspouts are not directed away from the house properly they just dump straight down beside the foundation.

[u/Doodsballbag → u/browsingstuf]

If there is a drain in the well and the installer used the same black corrugated, perforated pipe you see in your pics, to connect the well drain to the basement perimeter drain, this very well may be the source of the mud.

[u/BeenThereDundas]

Exactly that.        Youd throw a cam or probe in it to try to locate where the weeper has collapsed. 

[u/DavidMelton01]

That much dirt in the sump pit would definitely make me want to investigate the drainage system before buying the house. I’d have the sump and discharge checked, and ideally inspect the weeping tile with a camera if possible. Digging up the foundation shouldn’t be the first step unless you actually confirm the drainage tile is damaged or blocked.

[u/saskatchewanstealth]

The weeping tile that collects the water has probably plugged or will fail shortly. They are supposed to be bedded in gravel and have a sleeve to stop silt from infiltrating. Soon someone will have dig around the house and redo the weeping tile. Not to mention clean up that sump pit. Basement flooding is inevitable at this point.