Basement Flooding

4429 mcc · 06-06-2008, 08:57 AM

Anyone else have water in their basement this morning? We hardly ever get water in the basement yet this morning....water. Just a small amount everywhere. What sucks even more we are just about to finish the basement, needless to say that is on hold until I know we sured up this water situation.

Thinking about adding a second sump pump, any other ideas on sealing up the basement from Mr. H2O??

CY ST8T · 06-06-2008, 09:06 AM

Make sure you build up dirt around the foundation and other ways to make sure to get the water out away from the house. If you just patch the holes inside the water will find another way in. It is much better to work on pushing the water as far away from the house as possible. I finished my last basement and took on 2 inches of water which was a bear to clean up.

CyinCo · 06-06-2008, 09:11 AM

There was a segment on the who news last night on basement water sealing. There was a company they spotlighted. They basically put what I would decribe as an indoor gutter system around the base of the basement wall and then made a path for that gutter system to get to the sump. They said it was about $3000 per basement.

HandSanitizer · 06-06-2008, 09:12 AM

How old is your house?

First things I would look at that would be easiest is to get the water the farthest away from your house as possible. I used a about 10-15 feet of tile underground that is connected to the downspouts and comes out of these "pop ups".

Also look at your landscaping and around your basement windows. If there is any doubt they are not sloped away from your foundation then you need some dirt and get it done.

Also, if you live in a place with a bunch of trees, make sure the gutters are clean.

Start with that.

EDIT: Guys above beat me to this.

ISUFan22 · 06-06-2008, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

First things I would look at that would be easiest is to get the water the farthest away from your house as possible. I used a about 10-15 feet of tile underground that is connected to the downspouts and comes out of these "pop ups".

We have a pair of these, they work quite well for getting the water away from the house and not creating a washed out river.

HandSanitizer · 06-06-2008, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

We have a pair of these, they work quite well for getting the water away from the house and not creating a washed out river.

Yup, plus they look pretty nice and you don't have those long extensions that easily blow away and are a pain when you mow.

Cyclonesrule91 · 06-06-2008, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

Yup, plus they look pretty nice and you don't have those long extensions that easily blow away and are a pain when you mow.

Where did you get them and what do they cost?

travman23 · 06-06-2008, 09:31 AM

Usually once a year when it rains bad like this I get a little water that is just enough to get the carpet wet. The sad thing is that my house has tile around it outside that is supposed to help drain the soil which I can tell when it is saturated because it empties in the basement by the drain and it was flowing pretty good last night. Second I do have extensions on my downspouts, in fact I just cleaned the gutters 2 nights ago and it was raining so hard at one point even the wide gutters could not keep up. And last I have about a 2 foot overhang all around the house plus the area around the foundation are not only protected but are higher but I think the lawn was so marshy last night because it could not hold any more rain the majority of the water was coming through a window sill. Usually it starts seeping through the floor near the center of the basement when the water table is high but last night I know distinctly where it came from. Someone also told me that it's possible that the water seeps into the empty parts of the foundation blocks and comes in where someone has drilled into them to finish older basements which might be part of my problem too possibly as I have a 1956 house with a low grade finish.

Back to the shop vac... thinking I might need to invest in one that can hold more than 5 gallons. not getting a lot done fast with the one I have!

ISUFan22 · 06-06-2008, 09:31 AM

Ours were put in by the landscaper, but I need to put 2 more in. I'd assume they'd have that stuff at Lowes, Home Depot, etc - but I have not looked yet.

cowboycurtis · 06-06-2008, 09:35 AM

I lived in a house for 3 years and didnt flood once. Then one night 6 inches of rain and water in the basement. After that for the next 2 years I had water in the basement probably twice a summer. Its like the flood gates opened. The water found a way to get in and wouldnt quit. I tried gutter extensions and that didnt help. So I moved! Problem solved!

drmwevr08 · 06-06-2008, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

How old is your house?

First things I would look at that would be easiest is to get the water the farthest away from your house as possible. I used a about 10-15 feet of tile underground that is connected to the downspouts and comes out of these "pop ups".

Also look at your landscaping and around your basement windows. If there is any doubt they are not sloped away from your foundation then you need some dirt and get it done.

Also, if you live in a place with a bunch of trees, make sure the gutters are clean.

Start with that.

EDIT: Guys above beat me to this.

What happens once the water gets to the end of these 15' pipes underground? Maybe I misunderstood?

psycln11 · 06-06-2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Cyclonesrule91

Where did you get them and what do they cost?

I saw them at Menards last week.

ISUFan22 · 06-06-2008, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by drmwevr08

What happens once the water gets to the end of these 15' pipes underground? Maybe I misunderstood?

Tile is underground. One end connected to the downspout. Other end is connected to a green pop-up that's flush with the ground - popping up when the water flow forces it to.

Wesley · 06-06-2008, 09:46 AM

Make sure your sump line is not partially plugged.

Landshark · 06-06-2008, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by CyinCo

There was a segment on the who news last night on basement water sealing. There was a company they spotlighted. They basically put what I would decribe as an indoor gutter system around the base of the basement wall and then made a path for that gutter system to get to the sump. They said it was about $3000 per basement.

$3000? Good deal, my folks spent well over 10,000 after numerous basement flooding, they finally got smart after '93 and put in a second sump pump, haven't had any problems since.

Here's an ironic story...a month ago my brother-in-law got a notice from his mortgage company saying some gov't agency has declared their neighborhood a flood zone, although no flooding has ever taken place, not even in '93. They would required to purchase flood insurance. He was pissed and got the bare minimum required....he had 4" of water in his basement this past week....crazy huh?