Water vacuum!

[Scarlett]

Is there a machine that sucks up water, in cases of floods? My basement has been flooding in this heavy rain, and when it comes up through the floor quickly, a mop just isn't enough. Is there something (Like a Vax??) that will vacuum up water? I realise how dangerous water and electrics are as a combination- but I just wondered.

[Pudden]

We have recently bought a "submersible pump" which is designed to pump out flooded basements , and which can even switch itself on if water gets too deep. It was from Aldi (all branches have 'em, though usually limited stock), and it was �19.99. Its brand name is Power Craft. You might find similar in DIY outlets or Ebay.

Pudden

[Clanad]

The pump to which Pudden alludes is actually, at least here in the U.S., meant to be place in a "sump".. These are not expensive. It is a thick plastic container about 3 feet deep and perhaps 18 inches in diameter which is placed in a hole in the basement floor. Of course, a hole has to be cut through the existing floor for the installation, but it is quite efficient since the pump turns on automatically when the water exceeds about 6 or 8 inches in depth. The water is pumped outside through an easily installed PVC pipe about 2 inches in diameter. A full installation would include 4 inch perforated plastic piping placed under the basement floor to collect the seepage before it rises into the floor inside the basement. This can be done but is fairly expensive... Good luck!

[Scarlett]

Thanks for your thoughts!

My basement only floods to about 1'' since the floor area is huge... So need something that would "hoover" up the water rather than only switch on when several inches had accumulated!

[qapmoc]

Hi scarlett, I think you misunderstood clanads description, read it again, what he is saying is that you dig a hole through the floor (usually in corner out of the way) and put something which is like a bucket in the hole with the pump inside it, so that the pump is BELOW the floor level now, any water will fill up the bucket and be pumped out before it ever actually gets high enough to flood the floor level.

[qapmoc]

forget to mention that the bucket or whatever has holes in it like a sieve so that the water can get inside directly from the ground.

[Scarlett]

What I have is a huge vault- a room with a concrete floor, on the same level as my bathroom and kitchen. Water comes up through a manhole and quickly spreads all over the whole floor. It's not deep- maybe only an inch at the most, but is all round corners and flows into my hall. Would the water be able to make it to the hole in the ground if it is spread so far and wide??!

[dave abbott]

Hi Scarleet Yes you can buy avacuum to suck up water

Wicks do one for �30.00app or go to a garden centre and ask for a pond vac

[Clanad]

Let me... as you Brits might say, have a go at this again... The last description actually brings to light another, probably unrelated problem from your first. If, as you say, the water comes up from a "manhole", which I presume is a drain in the floor, then you are getting "back-up" water from the sewer or other system to which the floor drain is connected. If all you're getting is water... no smelly sewage, then I suspect the floor drain and its piping leads into a storm drain outside the house. If this is the case, a simple back-up preventer can be installed in the drain to eliminate all of your problems. This is a simple device, with a ball like valve that only opens one way. If it gets pressure backwards from the storm sewer, it closes. It would probably have to be installed by a plumber, but would be well worth the cost if, in fact, this is the problem. I would have it checked out though, since you shouldn't be getting this kind of water through a "manhole"... Again, best of luck!

[mimififi]

if you wanted a sucker-upper, I have one, the Hoover Brush and wash and it is a carpet cleaner in the shape of an upright hoover. It can be used to suck up water or any liquid actually, and has the added advantage of being able to wash your carpets too...!

However, I think Clanad's last suggestion of getting rid of the prob entirely is probably much better. I would look into getting the drain sorted, rather than sorting the symptoms. I you went on hols for 2 weeks and we had solid rain while you were away you could come back to such a lot of damage.....

Good luck!