Strange hole in basement floor
#1
11-20-18, 09:45 AM
Strange hole in basement floor
Hello all, first post. I recently purchased a new home and I have a strange hole in my basement floor. I’m hoping someone can tell me what it is and what I can do about it because I’d like to finish the basement but this is in the way. The hole is in the front of the house, about 6 inch diameter. When dry it was about 6-8 inches deep and muddy. After we got a lot of rain the hole filled up to the top but never overflowed. The sump pump is located about 20 feet away at the back of the house and is a sump jet system, works great. The basement is dry except for one crack about 5ft long that weeps with heavy rain, located about 10 feet away from the hole. Some people have told me this mysterious hole is an old drain but the hole looks rather fresh and the house was built in 1958. Originally a cape that was converted into a colonial, second floor was added 25 yrs ago. I’d like to fill the hole in if possible. Thank you in advance!
#2
11-20-18, 10:56 AM
Group Moderator
It could be almost anything. Since you are there you'll have to be the investigator. Have you tried digging in the hole to see if there is a pipe or clean-out fitting down there?
#3
11-20-18, 03:02 PM
There is no pipe or grate, just a raw hole in the floor, after probing it’s just mud, cannot feel a bottom. Currently full of water so I can’t see how large the cavity is.
Last edited by PJmax; 11-20-18 at 03:46 PM. Reason: enlarged picture
#4
11-20-18, 03:47 PM
Group Moderator
How far down did you go ?
It would be good to identify the depth of the hole. Use a broom handle.
There should not be any water in that hole if you have a sump and pump. Water in that hole means water under the foundation and can put a stop to finishing the basement.
It would be good to identify the depth of the hole. Use a broom handle.
There should not be any water in that hole if you have a sump and pump. Water in that hole means water under the foundation and can put a stop to finishing the basement.
#5
11-22-18, 07:47 AM
The hole is exactly 5 inches wide, concrete is 2 inches thick. After using a stick to measure it was a total of 15 inches deep. From the top of the hole to the silt was about 6 inches then 9 inches of heavy packed down silt. Water level is currently about 4 inches, been the same for a couple weeks now. Over the last 2 months I’ve seen it almost dry to filled all the way up with water. It definitely goes up and down depending on the rain.
#6
11-22-18, 08:28 AM
Some municipalities used to require a gate valve in the main sewer service line to prevent backups in case of sewer overload due to high inflow or clogging downstream. I know my uncle's house, built in the early 60's, had such a gate valve installed, with the handle in a recess just below the surface of the concrete floor. But since you can probe down 15" and not hit anything restrictive, such as a metal valve or line, I'm not sure what to say. Have you asked any of your neighbors if they have a similar hole in their basement floors, or have you considered going back to your realtor and asking them to contact the former owners, to see if they know anything about it?
#7
11-22-18, 10:24 AM
My neighbor told me when I moved in that there used to be a lot of water problems/flooding in the basement years ago. He installed a sump jet system for the previous owner and said that took care of all the problems. I haven’t been able to catch him to ask about the hole. There’s also an old shared well between my house and my other neighbor. It’s no longer connected as it’s city water now. It looks like the water softener system was next to the sump pump years ago. I don’t know if this has any relation or not but thought I’d mention it. Also a steady stream of water is constantly running into the sump. The sump comes on every 5 minutes and runs for 30 seconds all day long.
#8
11-22-18, 11:45 AM
Group Moderator
The sump comes on every 5 minutes and runs for 30 seconds all day long.
I can envision problems with fixing up the basement.
