Groundwater solutions that came along before sump pumps. Imagine that.
Hand excavated french drain groundwater removal systems.
Ancient, modern, and still the top dog in the fight, world wide, against groundwater damage, caused by damaged roof rain drain discharges or sloping topography, in most cases. The saturation of pooling groundwater produces hydrostatic pressure, which can cause the creation of venting trickles of groundwater into your basement or crawl space. Your sump pump installer will likely waste no time in pointing out, and forever referring, to the rain produces groundwater now flowing below grade as a spring. A very important concept to get your mind around first, if you plan to solve your groundwater problems.
In fact, the so called spring is really rain water that was not removed from the side of the foundation, and subsequently, after long hours or numerous hard rain days, the groundwater was left there to pool, saturate and cause your problem. No hand excavated french drains to carry it away 100% of the time.
If someone contends that a french drain exists, in an area that has standing groundwater, the french drain is either plugged, does not exist, never ran, is actually a ditch with a pipe and rock, or most likely those home sellers are liars, misinformed, or part of the problem. Not sometimes, every time.
Although it is very important to install hand excavated french drains with exposed river rock on the surface of the hand excavated french drain groundwater removal system, the appearance of a thin layer of river rock over a splash block and french drain along a foundation wall, whether put in the correct place or not, is not conclusive proof of the quality of the installation, the grade structure and engineering, as well as how the so called french drain was vented, and where, if at all.
Discovery of the problem source is seldom any different from the top number of reasons, some of which I have discussed, unless other homeowner or contractor attempts to solve the problem has actually made it “hard to un-ring that bell”, so to speak, leaving the home drainage contractor with no choice but to tell the homeowners he would love to help them, but that it is now not possible, at the former price quoted, or at all, because former home drainage solution attempts have been made since the home was last looked at it, and it is now not possible to solve the problem as had been previously discussed.
Perhaps there was not a dirt and clay compacted spash block foundation rain run off grade installed either.
The end result of bad planning for home drainage, which is hard rain prevention actually, is groundwater into your basement or crawl space.
My advice to homeowners that are new to the home drainage problem arena is to read this site like a professional grade college level course. Soak up this information and solve your groundwater problems before they sink you financially as well as literally.
When you do not have a trusted drainage contractor, use a national contractor service referral service. I recommend Angies list. This is quality advice from folks with high dollar homes and lots to lose. All information comes from homeowners with actual experience hiring each professional. These homeowners had either failure or success, and they will call it like it is.
If your prospective home drainage contractor is not represented by them, or well though of, or if he is not bonded, licensed, and insured, your best bet is to not take the chance on cheap scab contractor, and stick with a proven pro, no matter what your specific need.