A Sump Pump Tied Into the Exterior Drain Tile Stopped a Corner Leak in Sterling Heights

Watch the Sterling Heights sump install. Job at a glance The problem: a leak in one corner This Sterling Heights basement had foundation leaks in […]

Watch the Sterling Heights sump install.

Job at a glance

Town: Sterling Heights, MI (Macomb County)
Property: home
Service: sump pump installation, tied into the existing exterior drain tile
What we did: installed a full sump pump system and tapped it into the home’s exterior drain tile
Date: March 2026
Video: 18 seconds

The problem: a leak in one corner

This Sterling Heights basement had foundation leaks in one corner. The homeowner didn’t want interior waterproofing , and exterior waterproofing was more than they wanted to spend.

What was behind it

Water pressure against the foundation, called hydrostatic pressure, was pushing water in at the corner. The house already had exterior drain tile at the footing. Giving that water a direct path to a sump pump takes the pressure off the wall.

How we fixed it

Instead of interior or exterior waterproofing, Matt offered a lower-cost option:

We installed a full sump pump system
We tapped it into the home’s existing exterior drainage
Now the water from the exterior drain tile goes straight to the sump pump, which relieves the hydrostatic pressure

The result

No more leaks, and the homeowner saved money compared with exterior waterproofing.

When a sump pump can be the whole fix

It isn’t the answer for every leak. It worked here because the house already had exterior drain tile we could tap into, and the leak came from pressure at the footing. We have to look at the house first to know whether it fits yours.

Compare the bigger fixes: interior waterproofing and exterior waterproofing, or read French drain vs sump pump in Michigan.

More jobs like this:

We install sump pumps all over Sterling Heights and Macomb County, and we do basement waterproofing in Sterling Heights too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes. On this Sterling Heights house, a new sump pump tied into the existing exterior drain tile drew the water away from the footing and relieved the pressure, and the corner leak stopped. Whether it works depends on the house, so we look first.

On this job, yes. Matt offered it to save the homeowner money compared with exterior waterproofing. A standard sump system with basin, pump and discharge runs about $2,500 to $3,000. Exterior waterproofing runs about $3,000 to $60,000. See the sump pump cost guide.

It’s the pressure of water building up in the soil against your foundation. When rain and snowmelt build up, the pressure builds until water gets in wherever the wall lets it.

No. The 25-year transferable limited warranty covers our waterproofing work. It does not cover the sump pit or the pump.

Yes. Sterling Heights is part of our Macomb County service area, close to our Shelby Township base. We typically reply within 2 hours. See our Sterling Heights basement waterproofing page.

Leak in one corner of your basement? Call or text (586) 345-7292 for a free estimate.

Mansour’s Innovations LLC: owner-operated since 2014 by Matt (Imad) Mansour, 20+ years in the trade. 4.9 stars from 110+ Google reviews. See all projects.

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