Buried components near the building foundation can cause or increase foundation leaks and wet basements or crawl areas.
When roof spillage or surface runoff land near a building foundation wall, objects buried close to the structure, such as a buried oil tank or septic tank or even a large boulder or in-sloping solid rock, or even burrows from a gopher or groundhog all form a ready cavity or hole that helps catch and accumulate water that then can penetrate the foundation wall or leak up through the basement or crawl space floor.
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2019/02/06 Maggie said:
I have an underground oil tank, not used for 30 years. I didn’t know it was there when I bought the house. It is buried in the driveway.
A leak in the basement has been going on for a few years. Now that I know the tank is on the other side of the wall. Is the tank causing the leak in the basement? Thank you
This question and reply were posted originally at OIL TANK LIFE, ABOVEGROUND
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Maggie
I would not say the tank is the prime or only cause of basement water entry but there is no doubt that an oil tank buried close to a building wall can contribute to water entry through or under the foundation wall in that area. I have personally seen and verified that phenomenon.
Watch out: If you see basement or crawl space water entry and if you see that there is a wet area along a foundation wall that is localized and that appears to be in the same location as an outdoor object that is buried close to the building, that's a strong suggestion that the excavation for the buried oil tank, septic tank, boulder, or other object is serving as a water catchment that collects and aims water at the building.
The oily stain in th the mortar joint in the concrete block foundation wall shown above was a telltale indicator of an improperly abandoned oil storage tank outside the wall. The tank had leaked oil.
Our photo below, taken at the same location but close to the crawl space floor, shows active water entry along with old heating oil.
Watch out: water from roof spillage or surface runoff will also follow trenches dug to route piping such as oil piping from a buried oil tank (shown below) and also buried water entry lines or sewer lines or buried electrical wiring.
You do not normally have to remove the buried object, and in fact doing so risks leaving a new excavation of less-compacted soil that sill catches water and aims it at the foundation wall.
You should also check the following:
For more examples of building oil or water leaks traced to a buried oil tank see
For clues indicating that there may be a buried oil tank near a building see
For a discussion of just how close a septic tank may be to a building see
CLEARANCE DISTANCES, SEPTIC SYSTEM
If you see animal or other holes in the ground surface near the point of water entry
This article series discusses methods for preventing wet basements by attention to multiple best construction practices, including the basics of foundation damp proof coating or waterproofing, poor site drainage, bentonite clay for basement waterproofing, foundation membranes to prevent leakage, foundation drain tiles, proper backfill, and proper finish grading.
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