Crawl space drains and sump pumps in Mobile, Alabama
Many older Mobile homes sit on piers or block crawl spaces. Here's how to get water out from under them and keep it out.
Raised houses are common in Mobile's older neighborhoods, from midtown cottages to homes along the bay. Lifting the floor keeps living space above wet ground, but the space underneath sits right where rainwater and perched ground water collect. When the yard outside is saturated, water seeps in through block walls or rises through the dirt floor, and it stays because the crawl space is often the lowest point on the lot. A drain to the low point, a pit and a pump lift it back out.
Why start outside?
A pump treats the symptom. Overflowing gutters, downspouts at the foundation and soil sloping toward the house are usually what feed water under it. Fixing those with downspout lines and regrading can shrink the problem a great deal, and a good contractor will look at the yard before selling a pump.
What's in a typical setup?
- A perimeter or interior drain channel leading to the low point
- A lidded sump pit with a pump sized for the water coming in
- A check valve and discharge line that ends well away from the house
- An optional high-water alarm or battery backup for storm outages
Signs of water under the house
- Standing water or mud on the crawl space floor after rain
- A musty smell coming up through floor registers
- Sagging insulation, rusty straps or sweating ductwork
- Soft spots in the floor or water stains on piers
What should I ask before hiring?
Ask where the discharge line will end: not back against the foundation, not onto a neighbor's lot and not into a sewer cleanout. Ask who handles the electrical work and whether it needs a permit. And ask how the system will be checked and serviced, because Gulf hurricane season often brings both heavy rain and power outages, which is exactly when a pump needs to run.
The contractor sets the price after walking the lot, checking how much fall there is to an outlet and seeing what's buried in the way. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen the yard is a guess at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is a vapor barrier enough to fix a wet crawl space?
Not if water is standing under the house. A vapor barrier slows moisture rising from the soil, but liquid water needs a drain or pump.
How can I test my sump pump?
Pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch the pump start and empty it. If it hums without moving water or runs nonstop, have it checked.
Related services
More background: Mobile County drainage guide.
Back yard still a pond after the last Gulf storm?
Call the number above and get connected with an independent drainage contractor who works in Mobile County.