Sump, Radon and Warranty: Basement Waterproofing FAQ

The contractor walks the basement, looks at every wall and the floor joint, opens the sump if there is one, and goes outside to check downspouts and the slope of the ground. Then the job gets measured and written up as a price, line by line.

No. Whoever can show the basement and talk through what's been happening is enough. If someone else in the house wants to weigh in, ask for the price in writing and take the time you need to look it over together.

Yes, with the seller's permission to get in. A written price for the fix gives you a real number to bring to the negotiation, instead of a guess based on a water stain in the inspection report.

They should at least be looked at first. They're the cheapest part of the job, and on a basement that leaks at one corner in heavy rain they can be the whole fix. The waterproofing page explains how the outside and inside work fit together.

It depends entirely on what is in that number. Check whether it covers the pump and a backup, the wall membrane, tearing out finished walls, the discharge line, the concrete patch and the warranty. The cost guide lists each line and what pushes it up.

Some do and some don't. Ask whether it transfers, whether the buyer has to register it or pay to move it into their name, and whether it covers the drain, the pump or both. Get those answers in the written terms, not just on the phone.

It can make the sale go smoother. A buyer's inspector who finds a sump and a perimeter drain will ask about water, and a contract, a transferable warranty and photos of the work answer that question. Keep all three with the house papers.

Yes, but it isn't much. Before the wet season, pour a bucket of water into the pit to see the pump start and shut off, make sure the float moves freely, and check that the discharge line outside is clear. A battery backup needs its battery replaced on the maker's schedule.

Yes, if water only collects in one low spot. A pit in that corner can handle it. If water comes in along several walls, a pit on its own only catches what reaches it, which is why the two usually go together. More on that on the sump pump page.

Often not. Pennsylvania's Insurance Department says standard homeowners policies don't cover flood damage and lists seepage among common exclusions. Sump pump overflow usually needs an added endorsement, and flood insurance is a separate policy with limited basement coverage and, usually, a 30-day wait before it starts.

Maybe not the whole system. A basement that stayed dry for years and flooded once in a record storm may need a better pump and a battery backup more than a drain. One that takes water every spring and then flooded in the storm is a different case.

It's a good time to. Bucks County is in the EPA's highest radon zone, and a drain or new pit opens the soil under the slab. Test before the work and after, and ask for a sealed sump lid. The radon section has the details.