I tried to make the pump mount more permanent. Here is what I learned:
7000 Gal. per hour is equal to 1.944 Gal. per second.
It takes two seconds for Melissa to realize that the pump needs to be shut off.
1.95 * 2 = 3.89 Gal. of Ice cold stale muddy crawl space water flying at Melissa and I.
Strangely it tasted pretty good.
Under the garage was very full of water. It was around 2 inches deep towards the front of it, and it’s been like that for a number of years. The layer of sand that is under there is is a pretty good mix of runny sloppy mud and the kind that acts like baking soda and flour are in it. Not wanting to ruins a a pair of jeans, nor wanting to muck around in sopping wet clothing, I went out yesterday to purchase some hip waders. The problem with hip waders is that they are expensive. The problem is I’m a cheap bastard and I didn’t want to spend $50 on a one use (for me) item. I more than happily spent $20 on some heavy duty rain bib overalls and $15 on some cheap rubber boots. The difference? besides the $5? They can be used separately. I’ve needed a pair of rubber boots for a while now, and next summer I’ll be able to work out in the rain without getting soaked. Not that I have plans to work out in the rain.
So wearing my rubbers I ventured down below the garage. Its a belly crawl under a support beam, then about 3-4 feet of clearance depending on where you are, and halfway through there is another
support beam. The garage floor is nicely laid on 10in centered joists with plywood then cement. It’s a little unnerving for the first few minutes. I think more so because of the 20+ years of dusty spider webs that have made a layer across the underside of the joists. I wear a nit cap as I can’t stand the feeling of spider webs. Especially on my head. This all would be a lot easier with photos but I don’t want to take the camera into that crap.
I dug a temporary trench to put in the drain tile (big plastic hose with holes and a big giant sock on it). With any luck it drained away most of the water into the sump basin. Now that I’ve been down there I think I need to do things a bit differently. I may need to build up a wall between the houses. This should help keep some of the crap from the neighbors from flowing into our side. I haven’t decided if I should use cinder blocks or foam board. The foam board will insulate better, but the cement bocks will not move once they’re down there. On the other hand, you have different fingers Foam won’t look suspicious if they go to sell their place next door, and it’s a hell of a lot lighter to try and carry around crawling on all fours.
I’ll do the foam unless the cinder blocks are significantly cheaper. :)
so updating the list I have
Finish the gravel
Lay out the new vapor barrier
it’s still only half done. Kind of.
Make the pump mount more permanent.
first attempt failed.
Build a platform to go over the sum and pump.
Possibly dig a trench from way up in front of the garage to the sump.
a still need to fish the last of the crap out from under the garage.
finish resealing and insulating the ductwork.
Run a new power line to the sump pump so that it isn’t on the same circut as the living room.
The list seems to be growing.