"Donna" wrote in message
news:vkUMh.140$E46.6@trndny09...

Thanks again for all of your input and advice. I'm leaning towards
spending money on a pro to put in the sump pump and drains, and investing
my energy in excavating and sealing the source of the leak: the coal
chute. All of the suggestions and advice I've received in this thread make
me think that might be the best approach, all considered. So thanks,
everyone.



If you eliminate the primary source you may not need the sump pump at all.

I intended to try and find an illustration of coal chute such as you
described and have not done so yet.

We went through this about 2 years ago. Around here coal chutes were metal
doors in the wall. The bottom had rusted out. I used cement blocks for
the structure and applied a stone veneer to match the existing stone as
closely as possible. No water in over 2 years.


Colbyt