Standard Water Control Systems

I used Standard Water’s service cause Angie’s list had good reviews for Standard Water. I never rate anyone excellent – cause who’s perfect? Nobody is a perfect 5. more

The crew foreman was very proficient in testing and updating the equipment and showed what needs to be checked. Very good service. more

In response to Kimberly G.\r \r We take our reputation very seriously and do everything we can to make the homeowner comfortable using Standard Water. Overwhelmingly, our reviews are positive and our awards for customer service speak for themselves. \r \r I am glad you offered your thoughts on Angies List and then, again, here on Citysearch as it reminds me to talk with our salespeople about such issues to ensure we are communicating clearly with each and every homeowner. We want our customers to understand what a waterproofing system can and cannot do.\r \r To that point, there are no waterproofing systems, installed on the interior of the home, that can prevent damp walls, period. Our salespeople are aware of this and we even note it in our contracts. If a homeowner brings up the issue of damp walls we are careful to point out our system isn’t designed to deal with that, no one’s is. \r \r The only solution for damp walls in cases like this is to install an exterior system as recommended by the University of Minnesota; a report we include with every estimate in the customers folder. The exterior system provides an impenetrable barrier that keeps water from contacting the block walls. There are two reasons the overwhelming majority of homeowners don’t use this system; the enormous cost and the disruption of landscaping around the entire perimeter of the home.\r \r The core filled block is another issue that is easily solved by drilling holes higher on the wall to allow the water to drain out of the block, capturing it with our Diamond Brite vapor barrier and moving it into the drainage field below the footing. Our patented Diamond Drainage Board was designed with this in mind. Right here I’ll note that this solution is still far less expensive than installing an exterior drainage system.\r \r Seeing inside the block is another issue. Since we rarely run into a problem like this it may not make fiscal sense to spend up to $30,000 for the right infrared camera plus the appropriate certifications. This could add a couple hundred dollars -- billable to the homeowner -- for every \r estimate that we currently do for free. A person can see where most homeowners would decline the infrared scans.\r \r I’m not sure how this homeowner came to the conclusion that our system would solve both the water seepage problem and the damp walls. We are acutely aware of this issue (to the point it is mentioned in our contracts) and it would be bad business practice for us to tell someone our system does something it was not designed to do. more

I contracted Standard Water Control to solve an issue with moisture and dampness in the foundation block of my newly purchased home. I expressed my clear goals as wanting to rid the foundation block of dampness, wanting to reduce musty smells pervading from the wet block, and to relieve external water pressure on the block to help prevent cracking in the future. A drain tile and sump pump system was proposed as a solution.\r \r They finished the job last week and it rained a few days later. The bill was $3600+ and the walls were wet again, the smell of damp mold re-emerged and the pump didn't trigger.\r \r I was told they believe the 1948 block core is more than likely solid, instead of hollow, and won't weep... rendering the draintile/sump pump useless for the results I had specified as requirements.\r \r I asked why this wasn't noted as a possible issue before or during the project - (could infrared have been used before a project to identify this, for instance, or some other testing to assure that their proposed solution would take care of the problem). I was simply asked for final payment, and a proposed upsell for a vapor barrier (which does not fulfill the requirement of relieving block pressure). I said that further discussion would be needed and a real solution be put in place.\r \r The issue is still open, and my hope is that Mike at Standard Water Control will fulfill the expectation of a complete, professional solution to take care of the requirements that were scoped.\r \r I will complete this review with final results.\r \r Current Rating: 50% Confidence more

We are truly sorry Mr. Harbinson thinks he was treated rudely; we try to treat everyone in a professional manner. We were out to his home 8.26.2011 and provided a written estimate for the work offering 3 options at 3 different prices. We left behind brochures and a DVD detailing exactly what we do and clearly showing the flexible corrugated piping we use in our Free Flow Buried Discharge systems. The flexible pipe has better freezing characteristics which is why we use it outside the home. Mr. Harbinson signed a contract on 9.5.2011 and the work was completed 9.23.2011.\r \r We were surprised at the demand to have a breakdown of our costs which is something we've never given any customer. We encourage everyone to get competitive bids from other companies so they feel they're getting the best value for their dollar. Also, we work hard to ensure every customer knows exactly what they're getting and how much it will cost; it's spelled out clearly in our estimates and on the contract that every customer signs in an effort to avoid issues like this one.\r \r We encourage everyone to see other reviews on us at the BBB website (where we're an A+ member) or on Angie's List. You are also invited you to check out the video on our website detailing the installation procedure for our Free Flow Buried Discharge systems at our website under the OTHER SERVICES tab then click on DISCHARGE SYSTEMS more

This company has absolutely no customer services skills or care for anyones safety. I would head what Tom says and RUN!! Even if you call and talk to the owner he has no concern or compassion. more

I just saw one of the Standard Water trucks in our neighborhood and it reminded me of how grateful I am that Standard Water came to our rescue! I was also surprised at the negative review I read on CitySearch and thought I'd tell our story. About 10 years ago they built a HUGE house next door to us and when the spring rains came our basement leaked for the first time since we'd moved in about 8 years before. We kept sopping up water from the carpeting after every rain. Finally, after a particularly heavy storm the sump basket just overflowed into our furnace room and out into the rest of the basement. We spent all night bailing water. The next day my husband started looking for someone to fix our problem. He also started talking to his friends and one recommended Standard Water. The salesman, Jim, came out, looked at our wet basement and told us he could help. He went through the process with us step by step and gave us an estimate. He was nice, knowledgeable and we felt comfortable with him right away. The crew came out a couple of weeks later and took about 2 days to do the work. They were very careful and tried as best they could to contain the mess and it is a pretty messy job. I have to say they did very well. We haven't had a basement water problem since. To this day we get notices and updates reminding us to check our sump pump as it ages. Last year they helped us change the check valve that wasn't closing properly and was making some noise. I can't imagine a better company to work with and I just couldn't let the people on CitySearch think Standard Water was anything but professional. Thanks, Anne more

My wife and I had asked for a water control system to drain water from our sump pump and had been told it would be a pvc pipe from our sump pump to drain water away from our house and a heat cable would be inside the pipe, and drain at the end of the pvc pipe, to keep water away from our house. We paid $2400.00 for this service. What was actually installed was a flimsy plastic pipe, and it appears the heat cable is not even inside the piping as we were promised it would be. When I called Mike to complain I asked him if he would give me the cost of his materials as well as labor costs (as it was clear to me the costs of the materials used, along with any going market rate for labor costs did not justify his excessively large bill) he said he refused to do so. In my opinion the amount I was charged violates contract law and is unconscionable. In my opinion a fair and honest business person is willing to tell a customer what the costs of material and labor are for work done. My wife and I also found that Mike was rude when we spoke to him over the telephone. Based on our experience with this company, my opinion is, you should: Run don't walk away from this company! more

I more

Since 1977, Standard Water Control Systems has installed more than 1.3 million feet of drain tile in over 15,000 homes, apartment buildings, business locations, and municipal buildings. We have installed numerous Battery Back Up Systems, Egress Window Systems, Glass Block Windows and Radon Mitigation Systems. We will happily provide you with names, addresses, and phone numbers of customers in your neighborhood and encourage you to contact them and verify our outstanding service record. It is important to us that you have all the information you need to make a comfortable and informed decision. Standard Water provides: * Free estimates * Custom designed o Basement Water Control Systems o Egress Window Systems o Radon Mitigation Systems * 24-hour emergency phone service with Standard Water staff * Battery Back Up Systems * Repair and replacement of sump pumps * Work done on finished and unfinished basements with minimal disruption * Servicing all of Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin * Transferable limited lifetime warranty on Water Control Systems and specific warranties for our other products and services. Call us for details. Pros: Standard Water has provided superior service to thousands of more