I recently had a closed loop system installed for my house. Since then, I've had water pooling in my basement occasionally. (I thought it was originally due to air conditioner condensate draining problems, but hadn't actually had a chance to see the water accumulating.) I discovered the water is coming in through where the loop pipes enter my basement (at a relatively high rate). Two pictures are attached.

The water seems to be entering through the PVC pipe through which the HDPE-loop-pipe runs.

I'm interested in any helpful or general thoughts anyone has.

I also have some specific questions.

What's the proper way to fix this? Obviously, I could seal the PVC pipe from the inside. Is this a good solution, or should it really be sealed from the outside? (I want the best long term solution, not the one that's easiest to implement now.)

I had separate contractors for the outdoor work and the indoor work. (The outdoor people run the hdpe pipes into the basement and cut them off. The contractors are buddies and work together. The indoor guy just sets you up with the outdoor one, but they request signing separate contracts.) Is this something I would contact the outdoor contractor about? (It seems it was their job to seal the HDPE to the PVC.) Or is it possible that the indoor contractor did something they shouldn't have done and broke a properly installed seal? I'm trying to get an understanding of these things now so I'm prepared for the pushback that I may get if/when I contact the contractors to fix this.

Much appreciated.

with a 1 1/4" HDPE supply/return we use a 3" PVC sleeve.

We use 7 links of of MS-275 Metraseal or another brand is called Link Seal on the inside

http://www.metraflex.com/wall-select3.php


On the outside we use a 3" x 1 1/2" Fernco fitting


Around the PVC and concrete we use Hydrolic Cement.

So, as you can see, we use three methods to seal everything up on every job. I have seen people go as cheap as using a can of spray foam, which might last a few months before the first leak...I think you need to call the contractors, play dumb and ask what is typically included and than you tell the you have a leak!

Excavate the penetration location on the outside of the basement wall. The excavation should be as small as possible, allowing about 6- 8 inches of working space around the penetration location. B 2 fifty poun bags of a coarse bentonite and fill the entire hole you created. Replace the dirt and move on.
Eric

a short term fix would be to pack bentonite around the pipe from the inside. It might even work long term

Also consider a "hydrophilic waterstop" with pipe penetrations listed as an application.

Thanks for the replies.

As far as solutions that might be applied from the inside, are any of these applicable at this point, i.e., now that the entire system is installed and the hdpe pipe is pressed hard against one side of the pvc? (Specifically, I'm wondering if we'll get a good seal around where they're pressed together. It seems potentially difficult to get the sealant around that area well although I can smear it right on the surface. Is there any concern with having the PVC filled with water long term (which will of course happen with a surface seal like that).

jonr, were you suggesting a hydrophilic waterstop from the inside or outside?

As far as excavating and packing bentonite around the outside, is there any concern about the expansion and compression cracking or damaging my foundation? It is important to have anything more flexible than bentonite there?

(Again, I'm really looking for a good long term solution so that I can forget about this for 40 years, rather than a solution that is quick and easy to implement.)

Thanks.

I would call the loop contractor.

Alright. Contacted the loop contractor.

I would still appreciate any additional thoughts anyone has though. I've had a number of problems with this contractor now, and, frankly, I don't trust them to do the best fix long term.