I’m assuming that gutter and downspouts are clear if they are new.
How far away does the water expel from the downspouts? Are they dumping on the surface or in drain tile? Make sure it’s dumping far away. Go outside during a big rain and watch.
If surface, does the grade of the land head away from your foundation or toward it? If drain tile, is that blocked or free flowing? Fix the grade if needed.
How is the grading of the land around the house in general? Make sure everything grades away from your foundation. Is there hardscaping, such as a sidewalk, next to your house? Is water pooling there? Fix the grade if needed.
What kind of vegetation is close to the foundation? Ground cover? Large bushes? Large trees? Tree roots can wreak havoc on your foundation walls, especially with a 100 year old house. Consider clearing away vegetation and fixing root points of entry where water can infiltrate.
Is your foundation block or rubble? If it’s block, does it need to be re tucked? Can you tell from the inside? If not, get a shovel and dig down where you have the most issues and check to see how the mortar joints look. Are there other point of entry where water could get in, like your water main, gas line, etc.? Fix all water points of entry with hydraulic cement.
What is the makeup of the fill dirt next to your foundation? Is it clay/sand/gravel? Gravel > sand > clay.
Did you do all the easy stuff? If that doesn’t work, I am of the opinion that you should keep water from getting into your house, not just fix the symptom with a sump pump. With a 1920’s house, you are probably not too deep of a foundation that you couldn’t fairly easily excavate yourself. If you do that, tuck point all the mortar joints and fill any water entry points with type S mortar, apply a waterproofing material or membrane, and then backfill with gravel. Make sure you grade away.
But, if you are sitting on a spring or the water table really gets high, then a sump pump might be your best option.
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