Recently we purchased a house that has both a finished basement and two unfinished crawl spaces. There is a drain that leads to a sump pump around the main basement, but nothing in the crawl spaces. In the last month we have experienced quite a bit of rain and both of my crawl spaces have had water - water that I fear if I had not wet vac'd on a nightly basis, would have spilled out into the main basement. My question is how to address this water issue - one contractor wanted me to put french drains in both of the crawl spaces, but other people have told me to put them outside. Thanks.

Steven, if the crawls are both at the same height as the system you currently have in your basement, they can be waterproofed and tied into the existing sump pump. You will have to decide on the monetary approach. Most homeowner's will elect the french drain method. It is alot cheaper then excavating around from the outside. Basement waterproofing companies normally charge by the foot, that is how many linear feet around the perimeter of the crawls. My advice to you is to get estimates from several different companies. Check with the neighbors. They will usually be more than happy to discuss the matter with you. Ask them,"Who installed your system?" The companies I have worked for got most of their work from "word of mouth" references. If you choose the inside method, the work is going to be the same. Choose wisely. Ask the company what and where did they do their work. Ask them what type of guarantee they offer. Questions do not hurt. poor workmanship does!

Tom - Thanks for your answer. Unfortunately the crawl spaces are approximately 3-4 feet higher than the rest of the basement. Can a new drain somehow be connected to the existing drain in this situation.

Yes they can be tied in, but it's alot of digging. Your best bet is to have a seperate system in the crawls. This means another sump pump and crock. If you decide to tackle this job yourself, you can email with the measurements, and I can estimate materials for you. I can also guide you through the entire installation. But let me warn you, this is very hard work, especially when access is limited to a crawlspace. If you have a strong back ,and some good friends, you can save several hundred dollars, by DIY. Basement waterproofing is not brain surgery. Good Luck Steven!

Do you already have gutters and is the ground sloped away from your house? Look right up next to the house. If the ground slopes toward the house from about 1 foot out that's where I would start.