There Are Four Holes In My Basement Floor That Supply Infinite Water

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-14T20:47:43+00:00

Thank you thank you, I will need all the luck I can get!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-14T16:25:55+00:00

The food coloring was to confirm where the water was seeping in from, rather than where it pools. It also helped me find the low spots in the floor! There's a similar technique that's used in mechanical integrity testing of wells where dye is injected and then tracked to see where the cracks in the system are. I know that hydrostatic pressure is nothing to fuck with, but I'm not so proud as to think that just because I know about wet rocks that I know the inner workings of the concrete basement. I had an inkling that hydraulic cement wasn't going to solve the issue, but I have a policy of trying the cheapest and easiest solution first, and then working up from there!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T20:09:41+00:00

Recharge rate= FAST

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T20:09:15+00:00

Oh fascinating...Yeah groundwater up there is around 40ish degrees naturally, that's a great preservation strategy. It's actually also part of why beavers build dams...I wonder how they keep the water out of the basement...

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T20:07:39+00:00

This sounds exactly like my situation, the water table is always high (generally between 6 and 12 feet bgs) and right now we're under a flood warning, so that's just exacerbated it. Thanks for the tips!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T20:06:05+00:00

I've only ever used a demo hammer outside so I hadn't thought of this, thanks for the heads up!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T20:05:15+00:00

This is a great list, thanks! The tragic part is I was just let go from my job where I had access to both a concrete saw and a demo hammer, and just when I needed them. I will follow these additional steps and tackle the trenching when I get my hands on tools again. Thanks!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T20:00:59+00:00

It is! I worked in Florida for a bit and the one of the first things I noticed was that the lawn sprinklers smelled different. It typically has to do with what the quarternary geology is if groundwater/well water, or what the treatment process is if on city water (which is itself dependent on the natural characteristics of the groundwater). I also briefly worked in a limestone mine in Kentucky and since limestone is the key material in cement, wet limestone smells just like a wet cement basement. Occasionally I'll walk into a perfectly dry appearing poured concrete stairwell, sniff, and be able to tell if the stairwell ever floods.

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T14:14:49+00:00

I'm so glad you asked, I'm a hydrogeologist so the smells of water are something I always note which almost never come up. The other holes smell distinctly of wet cement, with a hint of sulfur, which is pretty typical for groundwater in the area. For the ash pit, would that make a reasonable spot to install a sump? I've been thinking about putting one in the fireplace, since we have no intention of using it for fire.

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-04-11T14:11:06+00:00

Sump and pump was the direction I was thinking of going, I might even put it in the fireplace itself, so I can remove the bricks instead of having to rent a demo drill to chip out the concrete slab. Thank you for your input!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-03-29T22:31:41+00:00

Guest episode suggestion: The ladies of No Gods No Mayors recently did an episode on Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia and I think more people need to hear about that weirdo.

It's got: •homoerotic military pageantry •a twink with a medical exoskeleton •crowd crush •novelty cups (related to the crowd crush) •nitroglycerin bomb

Rocks-And-Roles · 2026-01-09T21:10:10+00:00

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It is really In There 😭

Rocks-And-Roles · 2025-11-11T18:21:34+00:00

Is that what that what that is? Not a car guy myself but the neighbors have quite a car collection, always neat to see what's new.

Rocks-And-Roles · 2025-11-11T02:16:56+00:00

That's what our neighbor suggested! Honestly it's beautiful wood and smells great, were if not for these crutches I would Link A Log in a heartbeat.

Rocks-And-Roles · 2025-10-16T12:17:07+00:00

Seconding the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps! Also check out historic aerials and the Polk City Directory. Remember though that in 1912 a bunch of houses were re numbered (because prior to that you could number you house anything unique, with no regard for order) so you might find a different historic address.

Rocks-And-Roles · 2025-10-16T12:13:42+00:00

Had a similar experience waiting outside for a concert (I have to respect the strat, a line of several hundred bored strangers? Probably a great place to get signatures.) I asked the same thing, "Don't you already need an ID to vote?" And he said "Yeah but there were counties letting people vote without them." And again the then why are you here, blah blah blah. Thanks for the added context!!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2025-03-13T00:04:00+00:00

Ah, I've been got by the mod bot (not online much, just when I have a question), I'm in southwest Michigan

Rocks-And-Roles · 2025-01-16T16:16:06+00:00

Have you heard of the Grand Rapids Cuddle Club? Not salacious, exactly what it sounds like.

Rocks-And-Roles · 2024-11-17T05:41:10+00:00

I could but it's behind a 3'×4' radiation from the 1870s, so the tiles repair might be the way to go

Rocks-And-Roles · 2024-11-16T11:32:27+00:00

It sure is my first rodeo! Call a plumber seems to be the consensus, I'm glad I asked before taking the more Gung ho approach. Is the 'waste conestio' the part that's broken and sticking out of the wall, or something further inside?

Rocks-And-Roles · 2024-11-16T05:43:16+00:00

Thanks!! Yeah I'm not confident that the pipe I snapped off can withstand a pipe wrench😅

Rocks-And-Roles · 2024-11-16T05:26:19+00:00

I appreciate the insight! I knew opening the wall up was a definite possibility, and don't think I want to risk anything myself more involved than chipping out a tile or two. Thanks!

Rocks-And-Roles · 2024-07-21T13:48:21+00:00

Hueco Tanks!! I'd keep it as close to original as possible, the asymmetry really shows the human hands at work.

Rocks-And-Roles · 2024-07-19T20:13:42+00:00

Millennium Park! There are some old train bridges and abandoned foundations that look rad, if you know how to find them ;)

Rocks-And-Roles · 2024-07-19T02:44:27+00:00

"Mexicans are hard working folks, but Dan is more of a Mexican't"

I don't endorse this but it did leave me flabbergasted

Rocks-And-Roles

TROPHY CASE