On April 24, 2026, we discovered water on the floor of our utility room, which had partially spread into the carpeted family room. After checking for plumbing leaks and finding none, we pulled back sections of the carpet to allow the area to dry. The water appeared to be originating in the utility room and spreading into the family room and adjacent bedroom. Over the next several days, the problem continued to worsen. On April 26, 2026, we contacted Standard Water Control Systems (SWCS), a company we understood to be highly experienced in basement water issues. We explained our situation and scheduled an appointment with Nate Amdall, a Sales Specialist for SWCS. During his visit, Nate inspected the affected areas and examined our sump basket, which was dry. He quickly concluded that because our home was built in 2001, the builder had installed a deficient drain tile system that was now failing. We specifically asked whether the water problem could be caused by something else. Nate indicated that he did not believe so and stated that he had seen this same issue many times before. On April 30, 2026, Nate provided a proposal recommending installation of a new drain tile system. Trusting his expertise and diagnosis, we signed a contract with SWCS to perform the work. Between May 1 and June 1, 2026, I prepared the basement for the project by removing and disposing of all carpet, removing baseboards and cabinets where necessary, and relocating personal belongings. Throughout this period, standing water continued to appear every other day and then dry up. I repeatedly sent photographs to Nate documenting the ongoing water intrusion. On June 5 and June 8, 2026, SWCS installed the new drain tile system. The installation crew was professional and performed the work well. However, on June 7 and June 9, we again observed standing water in the exact same locations in the basement. We immediately contacted Nate, who advised that a member of the Service Department would need to inspect the issue. On June 10, 2026, Todd from the SWCS Service Department visited our home. After reviewing the history of the problem and inspecting the affected areas, he asked to test our floor drain. He observed our water softener discharging into the utility room floor drain during its normal regeneration cycle. Todd then manually initiated a regeneration cycle, and the floor drain immediately overflowed onto the basement floor. We watched the water travel across the basement and into all of the areas where moisture had previously appeared. Within approximately five minutes, Todd identified the actual cause of the problem: a clogged floor drain. The issue was unrelated to the drain tile system and did not require installation of a new one. Given Nate's confidence in his diagnosis and his representation of extensive experience with similar situations, we believe this simple test should have been performed before recommending a $10,400 drain tile replacement. Had it been conducted, the true cause of the problem would likely have been identified immediately. Later that same day, June 10, 2026, we contacted Roto-Rooter to clean the floor drain. The drain was cleared at a cost of $420, and the water problem was resolved. As a result of the incorrect diagnosis, we have incurred substantial costs and damages. We paid approximately $10,400 to SWCS for a drain tile system that did not address the actual problem. In addition, we estimate approximately $10,000 in costs to replace flooring and restore the basement after removing materials and preparing for the project based on SWCS's recommendations. read more

Before you hire any Water Control company hire a plumber to make sure you really need drain tile. After we hired this company we still had seeping water issues. After they were called twice they finally told us we had a leaking pipe. In addition, an employee stole a cellphone and a FIT BIT watch from our home and damaged our egress window. They fixed the egress window. The owner was not very pleasant, made us feel like we were not telling the truth. My husband literally spent hours changing passwords and canceling credit cards since the cellphone contained sensitive information. A few days later through Google find my device we pinned the cellphone at this business location, we called the police and had to take time away from our work to retrieve our phone. We never retreived our FITBIT watch. It was a nightmare! The company apologized but the damage was done!! The job itself was OK.. our sump pump has not been running at all .. probably because we never needed the drain tile in the first place. Be on alert when you have strangers coming in your house!! Apologies are not good enough after what this company put us through!! read more

We have had a little water come into an unfinished part of our basement after every rainstorm since we moved in (almost a decade ago) and it's clear it had gone on for a long time before that. Obviously, it's something we want to fix. In 2023, we sought a quote from another company, Innovative Basement Authority (oh yiss we naming names). They sent a man out after a month, and with a week of preparatory emails insisting that all decisionmakers be present for the appointment and that it would take no less than 90 minutes. Their man went down in our basement for nearly an hour with a laser to take measurements by himself, then came back up and told us the bad news: it was a serious problem, it would cost $16,000 to install a complicated drainage system to resolve, there were no cheaper options that would solve the problem, if we didn't fix it soon it could cause serious foundation damage and maybe cost twice that much, but thank God he was able to offer us a series of (complicated) discounts and financing down to $11,000 as long as we signed immediately. We were only seeking a quote, as we had been clear about from the start, but the Innovative salesman was very aggressive and refused to take "maybe" for an answer. My wife was so upset by the very unpleasant experience that she refused to even consider getting another quote -- even from another company -- for several years, while I dealt with Innovative's continuing email and phone campaign ("special financing offer!") for the next six months. I was still worried about what the Innovative man said about the problem potentially getting much worse (and more expensive) in the near future, so, this year, I finally prevailed on my wife to let me get another quote, on condition that she be allowed to be at least ten miles away from the house at the time. I called Standard Water on a Wednesday. Without further ado, their man Todd was at our door the following Monday, and we almost got a Friday appointment. Todd, too, headed down the basement with a laser, but the contrast was like night and day. He didn't kick me out to take his measurements by himself, but had a conversation with me about the space, when it was built, and my concerns, then started explaining everything he was seeing. I am very dumb about homes (my talents lie elsewhere), and he was happy to explain... well, a very great deal about my own home to me, pointing out how the basement had likely developed over time, where the owners had punched a hole in the original foundation, and where the water was going. He made some suggestions about things I might do to mitigate the problem in the near-term, gently shot down some ignorant suggestions of my own, and advised me on how to prepare the space for full treatment (by Standard Water, of course) on my own time, saving me money. Todd also told me honestly that, no, my house was not going to fall over because of this isolated seepage, and that it poses no imminent threat to the rest of the house. Then he explained how Standard's solution would interact with our existing sump system, why it would greatly improve our existing radon system, and gave a couple different ideas for how he would suggest arranging things if we went ahead with the project, taking laser measurements as we talked. His quote: $5800, with a "June discount" down to $5500 if we made a decision in the next week (not on the spot). No pressure tactics, no nonsense, just a good conversation about the job and the bottom line. He was in and out in 30 minutes, not 90. One follow-up email thanked us for the opportunity to come into our home, and we've heard nothing since -- and with every day of silence that passes, Standard rises in my esteem. Partly as a result of Todd's honest answers to my questions (but mostly because, unrelatedly, our car got totaled and we need to replace it, so there goes all our money), we are not going forward with the project this year. However, we are eventually going to solve this water thing. When we do, there is no doubt in my mind we'll be calling Standard and nobody else. In the meantime, a nice review seemed like the least I could do in exchange for a lot of valuable information and even more valuable peace of mind. read more

I'm very pleased with the service I received from Standard Water Control Systems. My sump pump install was efficiently done, and the basement was left clean. The sales representative was informative and helpful, and gave me a clear idea of what my options were. The price is competitive for the work provided. I highly recommend Standard Water Control Systems. My washer and dryer were not fully hooked up after the concrete install. When I alerted them, it was fixed within an hour. That's the sort of service I really appreciate. read more

Despite the claims presented on Standard Water Control's website and marketing materials, installing a perimeter drain tile system does not guarantee protection against all forms of water seepage--specifically water intrusion through the center of a concrete basement floor. The company features testimonials from customers in high water table or marsh-prone areas who report complete moisture mitigation for the lifetime of their foundation. Their brochure similarly promises: "Our quality drain tile installation will give you assurance against future water seepage for the lifetime of your foundation..." However, in practice, Standard Water Control only guarantees moisture protection within the one-foot perimeter of the foundation where the drain tile is actually installed. According to both the company's owner and quality control specialist, any water intrusion occurring outside of this narrow perimeter is explicitly not covered. When I consulted with a company salesman prior to installation, I was assured that a full-perimeter system would effectively resolve all basement water issues. He further stated that, should any issues arise, the owner would "make it right." I relied on these representations--along with several testimonials from their website, including one from June 5, 2025, which reads: "This customer has water wicking up through their basement slab. To prevent this from continuing, Standard Water Control will install a perimeter drain tile system that is warrantied and fully transferable for the life of the home." Another, dated March 5, 2025, claims the system is particularly effective in areas where water could seep through foundation walls or floors due to high groundwater levels and poor exterior drainage. When I contacted the owner to ask why their system could purportedly prevent water wicking through a slab in other homes but not mine, I was told unequivocally that unless the company excavates and installs a moisture barrier under the entire foundation, water intrusion through the slab cannot be prevented--and that the guarantee only applies to the perimeter. When I raised concerns about the inconsistency between this explanation and the company's marketing materials and sales promises, I was told that the guarantee is akin to a phone company advertising a "free phone"--an appealing claim that doesn't hold up under scrutiny. I ultimately spent over $14,000 on a system I believed--based on the sales presentation and marketing--would eliminate water issues in my basement. This turned out to be untrue. I continue to experience water seeping up through the center of my basement floor, which now poses a serious concern for my family, especially a household member with a compromised immune system who is highly vulnerable to respiratory issues related to mold and mildew. Had I been fully informed of the system's limitations and the narrow scope of its warranty, I would have pursued a less invasive and more cost-effective solution such as a high-capacity dehumidifier, rather than undergoing a major construction project. I strongly encourage prospective customers to read their contract carefully. While the agreement disclaims responsibility for most forms of moisture intrusion, the company's advertising consistently implies otherwise. Moreover, the contract exempts the company from liability for property damage during installation. In my case, a large truck used to haul debris cracked my driveway, and sections of my basement walls were significantly damaged. The company's contract is worded in such a way that they will refuse to accept responsibility, and my experience suggests they make minimal effort to prevent such damages during installation. In summary, I am deeply disappointed with the company's lack of transparency, the discrepancy between their promotional messaging and contractual terms, and the dismissive manner in which my concerns were addressed by both the owner and the quality control representative. I would not have chosen Standard Water Control had I been fully informed, and I caution others to review all information critically before proceeding. read more

Brent and his crew did a great job installing drain tile and a sump pump. They were professional, prompt, and clear in their communication. They also cleaned up afterward. I highly recommend them! read more

We selected Standard Water Control Systems to install a water control system in our basement. The communication and work were excellent. It was just installed and we'll have to wait until next year's spring thaw to know for sure that our water problem is solved, but I can say that the purchase and installation all went well and that communication was excellent throughout. read more

My wife and I needed an egress window installed in our basement. After countless appointments with dozens of other contractors, we chose to go with Standard Water because everything aligned perfectly. The salesman was an awesome person who was greatly educated and very informative. Standard Water also offered the best financing that we came across. Standard Water's crew came out a week before to install a heater to thaw the ground before digging, and promptly began working at the designated time scheduled the following week. I asked the crew lead an estimated finish time and he gave me almost to the minute when they were expected to finish. I am also greatly appreciative that Steve came to inspect the project and to meet with me as a courtesy to provide me with assurance and information. This company is very respectful, honest, punctual, informative, and most importantly professional. I highly recommend them for any egress window projects that you may have planned. read more

Standard Water Control Systems just completed applying carbon fiber straps to one of our basement walls that had exhibited cracking and slight bowing. I had received a couple of other quotes, but this company was more competitive and had, for my mind, a better product. I had used this company before for a tiling project, so I knew they delivered a good product with an experienced crew. This team was no exception: Michael, Ernesto, and Reynaldo were all very professional and efficient. The preparation of the wall, application of the fiber straps, and patching the floor seemed to go smoothly. I was impressed by the clean-up too: all the debris was carried out and the basement area vacuumed. Excellent company, excellent crew. read more

We tested for Radon, and found our home was 3 times the limit (9.3 radon reading) by the MN EPA. Standard came in, did a great job, and 48 hours later the Radon reading was .3! Great workmanship and reasonably prices. I am completely satisfied with them. read more

Standard water does not honor warranties. We brought them in to advise us on how to mitigate water in our basement. They made a proposal and we went with it. We now have water in our basement. The owner, Mike, is not honoring our lifetime warranty because of a technicality. Avoid them at all costs. read more

Standard put in our sump system & we couldn't be happier with the work. We found them on a neighborhood Facebook group, where they got many rave reviews. It seems like every home in M Hts that needed a sump got it from them. The basement is dry and we don't have to stress heavy rains anymore. A GREAT relief. Well done Standard! read more

Positive experience all the way through- responsive, personable and meticulous! Appreciated all the guys working on the job- well done! Hats off to you Brian and Brent and their crews! read more

We purchased our house about 6 months ago. I was not familiar with the water control system that was installed. The controller was beeping and would not stop after changing the batterly. I called the office, the woman who answered the phone was very helpful. Rob came out the next day, thoroughly tested the system and determined the controller had failed. He installed a new controller and double checked the system. He explained the system to me. I am very happy with this service. read more

Very frustrating and difficult to work with. Would not stand behind their warranty, did not work to correct the problem, only worked to cover themselves....in other words, they were counterproductive. Warranty is misleading! Do not trust their warranty. Would not recommend them. Did not seek a solution for us. Also, two of their five star ratings are from the same person....suspicious read more

I had drain tile and sump pump installed in nearly 3/4 of my basement back in March of 2020. The drain tile and sump pump work very well (so far, so good). The problem is that the crew left concrete dust ALL OVER my basement and stairs. I called the owner to ask if they would be back to clean it up. He said that it was in the contract that they DO NOT CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR WORK. I told him that was a horrible way to run a business and that he was providing an awful customer experience. I have spent HOURS cleaning the mess they left. In my opinion, any company that you are paying thousands of dollars to do work should make sure that they leave the area better than they found it. I am disgusted by the way the owner acted. He basically told me "tough luck" and hung up. All of the reviews are true about his poor attitude. Beware of any contractual fine print with this company. read more

The work was done fast and at the price discussed. However the basement walls were cut through the studs and the sill plate was also removed. This was not something discusse during the estimate. However, now I am having to refinish the walls by adding in support beams and a new sill plate. When I brought this to the president of the company's attention all I got was the classic "sorry for the confusion" and told me other homeowners didn't have a problem with this and then told me to read the contract again. The work seems well done but there was a fair amount of work not verbally discussed with me that was left over. So pair the leftover work with the smug emails I am not impressed with the ethics and where the values of this company lye. They are about volume. Not people. read more

I have hired this company to replace our gutters and it has been over 2 months. They gave me a date they would be here and that was 2 days ago. No one calls me to update the job or explain why they haven't shown up. They are sitting on a deposit and I expect much better service than this. I will not recommend them. read more

This was by far the worst contracting experience I have ever dealt with. The job got done, which is why they get one star. The whole drain tiling system was to be completed in two days (1/26/15-1/27/15) both to begin at 8:30am (to which they arrived 30 minutes late the first day- but that can happen and is understood). The SECOND day when they were to complete the job, they changed the time until later in the afternoon due to a conflict at another site. I told the owner that I was working at 1 and they job would need to be completed by then. He told me that I either could figure out accommodations for THAT DAY, or wait until JUNE. Having the basement torn up for 5 months is a REDICULOUS request for anyone to have a job half done. They got my business because they "pride themselves on customer service" but failed to provide that at any point during my experience. That being said, I strongly recommended that anyone interested in this company seeks a contractor that at least mildly accommodates the customer. This was the absolute worst. read more

These guys are good, maybe even great. I initially choked on the price of drain tile and sump pump but after last spring, I knew I needed to do something. We had them in this spring, 3/4 of the basement floor opened up and drain tile put in. After some thought, we had them back and had them install the backup pump and battery backup. Professional, courteous, friendly, and a really nice job. I would recommend these guys to anyone. I just noticed their truck down the block and plan on stopping by and thanking them. read more

Excellent product install about 10yrs ago. I called after hours and left a message. My call was returned the following morning. My appointment was scheduled for the next day. The worker who came to my house was knowledgeable, courteous, and expedient. read more

when my one year old system failed two weeks due to freezing weather and lots of rain, president michael hogenson told me to find someone else to fix it. he refused to make a service call to even see what the problem is. didn't care that my basement was on the brink of flooding or that the one year old pump was subject to a three year warranty. he said the manufacturer might take of the pump. he wouldn't. their mission statement to take care of the customer after the sale - what a crock. i understand they had over three hundred calls that day - maybe quality control issues. his problem. should not mine. will definetly be filing a complaint with the mn dept of commerce and will be suing for the cost of fixing standard water control's failures. read more

I was getting water in my basement and I called three companies to get an estimate. Standard Water's price wasn't the highest or the lowest, but they were the most professional. They really helped me understand the problem and how it needed to be fixed. Within a short amount of time, they Standard Water crew showed up and started to fix the problem. I was impressed with the special care the crew took to make sure my home was not damaged or dirty. I would recommend them to anyone in need of basement waterproofing. read 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 clear goals as wanting to rid the foundation block of dampness, reducing the musty smell that was pervading from the wet block, and to relieve water pressure on the block to help prevent cracking in the future. A drain tile and sump pump system was proposed as a solution. Standard Water 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. I was told they believe the 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. I asked why this wasn't noted as a possible issue before or during the project - (could an infrared inspection have been used before the project to identify this, for instance? Or some other testing to assure that the proposed solution would take care of the problem?). I was asked for final payment and proposed an expensive upsell of a vapor barrier - which does not fulfill the essential requirement of relieving water pressure on the block. I said that further discussion would be needed and a real solution be put in place. 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. I will edit this review letting you know final results. I will also adjust the star-rating based on the performance of the company. Current Rating: 50% Confidence read more

Very disappointed with the follow up customer service. We had drain tile installed last winter and discovered this fall that they didn't cap off our old sump pump pipes that led directly from our basement outside. We are currently dealing with a mouse infestation and when I spoke with Mike to ask what they would be willing to do about it he told me "nothing". I would not recommend this business read more

Awful. Rude. Patronizing. $4500 to install interior drain tile system with sump pump to mitigate hydrostatic water problem. My basement never flooded, but wall were very wet after every rain and water seemed to pool in concrete blocks. Standard said their system would alleviate much of the problem. Drilled holes in lower blocks, cut out concrete 18" from the wall. Added drain tile, rock and sump pump. Seemed all would be good, but no. First rain and the walls were wet. No improvement. Called, sent pictures, Mike decided the problem was leakage behind an electric panel. Would not come to look unless I removed all framing and electric panel. I contacted another contractor who said that was not necessary. Also moving electric would cost $1,000. This contractor believed something was causing blockage down by the bottom. Called Mike again. Again he said he would not come down just to look/test system. After another hard rain I called Mike and insisted he come down. AGAIN he refused unless I took off the framing and moved electric panel. I told him I would. I didn't want to, but that was the ONLY way I could get him to set up an appt. Couldn't get anyone over to take down framing until the same morning as the appt. with Standard. Rob came in and refused to do anything except put up plastic barrier - after framing was removed of course. Would not even take sump cover off to test pump. Said the only solution was to cover up the walls with plastic. That does not solve the problem. One of the drains they installed is bone dry. No water comes from that pipe at all. Didn't matter, Rob refused for another 10 minutes then finally took off the sump cover. Did not look or feel into the drain. Did not put a camera or metal clog buster to see if it was plugged. No option except pay more to put up plastic. Rip off. They hot my 4500 and I still have a wet basement. read more

The real indicator of the company is how they respond when you need to call them back after the money has been paid. The first winter my pump needed to run, I experienced problems. I realized then that they had installed the outlet hose so low to the ground that the water had to flow up hill. Consequently, the water backed up in the pipe and froze. My call to the owner of Standard Water increased my frustration. He wanted to charge me a hundred and some dollars to come out and look at it and a couple of hundred additional dollars to fix the problem. When I asked him why I should pay him more money to fix something that was not done correctly in the first place he got brutish with me and told me to find someone else to fix it. He insisted the installation was to code and it was not his concern that it did not work properly. He told me that I should have pointed out the problem to him when the system was installed - which was in the middle of the summer. I had similar experience immediately after the install was completed as well when I found that the workers had caused damage to an appliance in my basement. The owner was confrontational, he had no remorse and there certainly was no attempt to make it better. Had I had any contact with this guy when I was shopping, I would not have chosen this company. If you chose to hire this company you better hope there are no issues or be prepared to have to deal with them yourself because there is no customer satisfaction guarantee with this company. read more

Can I give them less than one star please? They damaged my property (admitted they did it), then refused to make good on it despite several previous warnings to them to not use that method to access the building. They just plowed right ahead. I found the damage -- they didn't even 'fess up to it initially. When they did, owner of company was rude, in my opinion, and couldn't stick to the facts. Tried to up-sell me an egress window. Find someone else to do this work; save yourself the headache of dealing with a company that offers lousy customer service, in my opinion. I regret hiring them. Really regret hiring them and paying them a large chunk of money for the drain tile system. read more

I had standard water and one other company, (innovative basement systems) bid out my basement project. The representative that came to the house from standard seemed disinterested. Every question I asked about the process he made seem as if we should have known, leaving me feel that the questions were stupid. Thankfully on top of rude customer service, and long turn times before work could be done, Standard Water came in 3 TIMES HIGHER then the other company for a similar system to be installed. No thanks. Just because you have been "in the business for 30+ years", doesn't mean you get to treat hard working people like idiots and expect us to pay an arm and a leg for it. Maybe it's time to retire. read more

Be very careful of this contractor. They came to my home and assessed my wet basement problem. Their solution was to have a drain tile system installed as the source of the water was coming from the foundation. As I was following their preparation requirements I experienced several rain events and found that the water was coming from the chimney and NOT the foundation as determined by SWCS. I called a roofing contractor who confirmed the chimney was the source of my water problems. I called SWCS and cancelled my installation. The informed me that there was a $650 non-refundable fee which will be charged. WHAT A SCAM! read more

Having a significant amount of experience dealing with water issues, I have to say that in general, these guys are the best. There are other great people out there, no doubt, and you may get a better price/better situation from someone else. Have at it. However, the work these guys do is always excellent, they only use equipment and do procedures that are solid and backed by guarantees, and they are reputable, long-standing, and their warranty will mean something - because they will be around. Again, there are other good people, and you can definitely find a better price. But standard water control won't be a rip off, and you can count on it being done well. I have no personal contact or relationship with them, I just saw some of the ratings, and felt it justified to put out my significant experience dealing with them in the three houses I've been in in the Twin Cities (and several friends who have used them). read more

Make sure you don't sign an agreement with them without receiving other bids. I signed up with them only to have someone else come out and bid the same amount including work that waterproofed an egress window, as well as the sealing of radon. I called the owner on the 4th day, (they require cancellation on the 3rd) to let them know I may need to go with a different option. To this point, no presentation of a cancellation policy was addressed while signing, I only noticed it after the fact. Either way, I signed, and it is what it is. When he finally called me back, it almost felt like he took pleasure in making me eat the $500 down payment. I had realistic concerns as to the work they overlooked, and instead of working with me on it, I was told that "I signed a contract". The conversation then got pretty nasty and I couldn't imagine letting them into my home. I will happily eat the $500 than give this company the satisfaction of working on my project. Not only would they not have fully solved the problem, but I can only imagine what they post sales service is like should another issue arise. Having said that, I am sure they do fine work, but at the end of the day, the character of the man I spoke with was an absolute joke. I did offer to pay for time and gas, but I guess that might be worth $500 to this guy. Again, my responsibility for making the mistake and signing an agreement, but baffled that a small business like this has a 3 day cancellation policy they don't verbalize to their customers. read more

We decided to use Standard Water on a recommendation from a friend. It was a disaster. We don't have a walkout basement so they decided to move the debris out of a window. The woodworking around the window was damaged. At first, they promised to fix it but then later left it half done and refused to finish the repairs. We had a tiled floor in one area that had to be torn up. I told them specifically not to leave a ridge of concrete so that new tile could be put back down. They left a concrete ridge anyway. Also, all 3 rooms where they worked have to be repainted. To fix all this is gonna cost us $1500-$2000. Then when we withheld $500 from the final payment we were threatened by Mike. The only good thing is their work did solve the inital problem. The bad part is it's gonna cost a lot more to repair all the damage they left behind. If you use these guys, better have extra money set aside to clean up after them. read more