Help! My Basement Is Flooding. What Do I Do?
What to look for and how to troubleshoot upon discovering water intrusion in your house:
- First, check to see if there are any electrical appliances or wires in the "wet" zone". Unplug any appliances in that area. Be sure to wear rubber sole shoes.
- Put valuables up on shelves, cinder blocks, bricks, or boards.
- If you have a sump pump in your basement, do the following:
- Check the street to see if there is an area power outage.
- Check to see if the pump is unplugged. If so plug it in.
- Check your electrical panel to see if any of the breakers have been tripped or if a fuse has blown. Take the appropriate action.
- If everything above checks out and the pump is still not working, do the following:
- Check to see if the "Float" is stuck or jammed. Take off the lid to the sump pit (Sump Crock). You will see a plastic ball that is on a metal rod. This is the "Float". (This is very similar to the float switch in the tank of your bathroom toilet. However, this float works in the opposite manner. When the sump float is activated because of rising levels of water, it turns on the sump pump and will evacuate the water in the sump pit. The float will then drop and the cycle will be repeated until the crock is empty.) Try freeing the float if it seems to be obstructed.
- If the float is "free" and nothing is happening, then the pump is broken and will need to be replaced.
- If the pump is constantly running and is not cycling on and off, unplug the pump. It will need to be replaced.
- If the pump is working but water seems to be coming back into the pit through the discharge pipe, you may have a broken "Check Valve". (This is an "anti - reverse water valve". This stops the water that is being ejected from flowing back down through the discharge pipe into the sump pump and harming the pump. This valve assures you will have a clear exhaust pipe.) If you hear water rushing back down through the pipe, the valve will need to be replaced.
- Do the following exterior troubleshooting:
- Check any exterior drains that are blocked. These could be stairwell, patio, sidewalk, or window well drains. Any drains that are meant to manage rain water need to be checked for blockages and cleared.
- Check your roof gutters to see if they are overflowing. If so, wait until there is no possibility of lightning to check and clear out any debris. Given the level of risk, we suggest hiring a professional company to clean out your gutters.
- Check your downspouts to see if they are disconnected or blocked with leaves. Take the appropriate action. If there is a heavy flow of water coming from your downspouts, you may have to attach solid plastic pipe extensions. A typical thirty to forty foot length of roof gutter can generate over sixty gallons of water per minute. It is very important to direct this water as far away from your foundation walls as soon as possible.
- Check for standing puddles of water close to your house. Standing water can seep into your foundation if it is allowed to go unchecked for any length of time. (As an example, one inch of rain water on one acre of land is equivalent to 27,500 gallons of water.) Ensure the grade around your house directs storm water away from basement walls.
- If your window wells are filling up, try putting a tarp, plastic sheeting, or boards over the opening. This may help but remember window wells usually fill up from the sides or the bottom up. If this is happening to you, have a professional look at this issue.
Conclusion:
You can never be over prepared. The Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission did a study in 1994 that stated 85% of all homes in the Washington DC area will have a water problem within the first 25 years and only one in 300 will be due to an underground spring or a high water table. That means almost every home in the area will witness a problem due to storm water. If you think that your house is susceptible to water problems, call NV Waterproofing today to receive a free estimate to solve and prevent water problems in your home.