I'm looking at an REO property that has been "winterized" and I am a little concerned about the conditions in the basement. There is roughly 3" of water ( ice ) in the basement. The furnace and hot water heater are on blocks so it did not reach them. There is a sump so clearly the basement has water issues. The walls are cinderblock, and although it appears to be up pretty high, it's impossible to tell where the water table is. I Though perhaps the "winterization crew" just opened the water heater and water tank, and that is where the water cam from. or perhaps a pipe did break before the winterization, but I would think id that were so it would be more than 3".
My concerns are this … where did the water come from,
Do I have to worry about damage to the structure from the water if it's frozen
If I go through with the purchase how do I remove / keep the water out of the basement until I can get the electric turned on?
Best Answer
From the efflorescence on the walls, I'd bet there's slow steady seepage through the blocks and the mortar. The only solution for this would be an external entrenching and wrap.
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