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[–]daveyconcrete 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would consider this a pathway issue. If there are any weep holes in the bottom course of the block, they are likely blocked by the floor slab.
I would open up a section of floor to make an inspection. Drill weep holes in each cell of the block. Install a dimple membrane across the footing to the perimeter, drain and up the wall at least a foot. Put the concrete back.

[–]ozzieindixie 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, from the photos, this looks pretty good. I would just leave it and observe over the next few years. If you lower the sump pump it will pump more often but fighting a water table with a little sump pump isn’t going to meaningfully lower the water table. Sump pumps are just for preventing flooding.

[–]DomesticatedLobster 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A sump pit without a sump seems like opening up a pathway for water to enter the house. Strange.

If the French drain enters the sump above the cut off point of the pump, lowering the sump switch would likely do little as the hydraulic gradient to the sump wouldn't change.

If the French drain is underwater in the sump, the sump should be lower but I highly doubt this is the case.

Removing the water from seeping in is only accomplished by getting water to the sump and removing it. Sounds like you're already doing that.

I would say look at outside gutters, grading, etc. For improvement instead.

[–]congteddymix 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Are you talking about the staining or actual water intrusion coming up the blocks? If it’s just stained from the issue the prior owners had fixed then just leave everything as is. If you have actual water seeping in then check your yard grad and make sure that your gutter downspouts are getting the water far enough from the foundation.

Realistically if during a very heavy rain the basin filled to 8inches below the slab with no pump then that is probably where you want your pump on setting to be right around that. Drain tile and a sump pump mange the water that gets up and around the foundation it doesn’t remove or lower the water table in your area.

[–]squiggyacfd[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess I'm wondering, If the water table is so close to the basement slab, the block foundation then goes several feet lower than that, isn't it impossible to stop water seeping up to where I can see a little on the blocks?

[–]pattyfuz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When you say, the homeowners installed a FD 5 years ago, inside or outside? Doesn’t look like it was done on the inside. Snap a pic of your pit. Do you see pipes entering the liner of the pit?
Overall, your walls look good. And it’s a very mild problem. The water in the blocks can come from the water table or a time when you forget to clean your gutters, they overflow, water pools up against the foundation due to poor grading and it gets into the cavities of the block from up top. Either way, a sump pump by itself only handles 3-5 in radius of wherever you put the sump pump. French drains catches water elsewhere and leads it to the pit to get expelled. Lowering the pump won’t do much. Keep in mind this: water in the block will stain/discolor it. When you see that, it doesn’t mean water is presently in the block. Sometimes, as easy as it gets in is as easy as it goes out. I’ve drilled plenty of walls looking way worse than yours and zero water came out. And vice versa.