By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,We have standing water in the crawlspace under our house, but the source is a mystery. We checked the water pipes and sewer lines but found no damage or leaks. What can we do?
--Benjamin
Dear Benjamin,
There are two possible sources for the water beneath your house. Either there are plumbing leaks in buried portions of the water lines or waste piping, or there is a problem with groundwater drainage.
Water-line leakage can be determined by observing your water meter for a period of 15 minutes while no plumbing fixtures are in use. If the gauge advances, there is a leak. To determine underground waste-line leakage requires the expertise of a qualified plumber. A video inspection of drain lines may be necessary. If no plumbing leaks are found, the water source is most likely faulty ground drainage. For a comprehensive evaluation of site drainage problems, a geotechnical engineer should be consulted.
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