‘How long will this house last’ Oak Ridge couple seeks solutions to leaky crawlspace

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. ( WATE ) — An Oak Ridge couple has struggled for 18 months with a leaky crawl space in their new home. The home builder has tried to fix the leaks, but not to the couple’s satisfaction.

They have a beautiful home, but they are not pleased with the water flowing through their crawl space. The couple has worked with their builder since moving in a year and a half ago. While they want to see more done, the builder claims he has done all they can.

The crawlspace under Jason and Jessica Russell’s house is big. The builder, Smithbilt, placed a reinforced plastic barrier on the ground. The couple moved into their home in mid-December 2022. It is located at the Preserve in Oak Ridge. The day WATE visited it was raining and water was flowing rapidly down the road in front of their house.

“The problem down here is with our walls. When it is raining, especially hard, they get saturated with water. The corners, the front wall, even our back wall,” said Jessica.

“We are still seeing water in excess of four feet tall, on the foundation, soaking into the cinderblock,” said Jason. “This is literally flowing like a river.”

Shortly after moving, Jason shot a video showing water flowing through the cinder blocks in several areas throughout the crawl space. Once notified, Smithbilt put up plastic barriers on the walls of the crawl space. Still, the cinderblocks became damp when it rains. So, the developer installed fans and a complex drainage system.

“They dug down into the ground, drilled holes in the foundation to release water pressure. That water then goes into a pipe system that is pumped out of our crawl space,” said Jessica.

“So, that is water coming from the system they put in trying to relieve the front wall. But this water that you see draining right here is from the rest of the crawlspace where water is in the crawlspace trying to find an exit,” said Jason.

The water often exits into their backyard on rainy days, creating erosion. Back inside, the sump pump misses some of the water.

“That is basically a solid stream of water coming from under the ground in this house. This is what is soaking up into the walls right now,” said Jason.

In a statement, Smithbilt told WATE: “We are aware of the Russells’ situation and have actively addressed it, following industry standards and regulatory requirements.”

Upon learning of the water intrusion, Smithbilt said it “engaged a third-party foundation specialist to assess the situation, who recommended corrective actions.” They include a “partial perimeter drain, a high-efficiency sump pump, drainage matting, and a new vapor barrier, all at our expense.”

The company said, “We take pride in addressing any concerns promptly and diligently, ensuring that solutions are both effective and timely.”

“Their conclusion for the excess water above this, they say it is normal for a crawl space,” said Jessica.

“I have my family living here. We have the stress of wondering with water soaking into our foundation of our house, how long will this house last and how long will this foundation be viable,” said Jason.

“Our longtime worry is mold, mildew, allergies for our children. The walls breaking down,” said Jessica.

“They have told us this is it. So, regardless of what we see here, this is their final solution. I say it is unacceptable,” said Jason.

The Russells have no intention of selling their house, but they wonder what an inspector would say about the water flow in their crawl space if they were to put it on the market. On that subject, there is more from Smithbilt. They told WATE that “crawl spaces are neither heated nor cooled, which results in natural moisture.” To mitigate this, Smithbilt said “Building standards mandate solutions like vents for airflow and drains for groundwater management, all of which were included in the Russells’ home,” according to Smithbilt.

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