Flooding is one of every homeowner’s biggest nightmares. Water can cause thousands of dollars in damage to a home and personal belongings… and a basement is the most susceptible area in a house to being flooded. Having a space below ground level makes it a prime area for water to collect. Flooding is the #1 most common natural disaster in the United States with damages being an average of $42,000 per case. In this article we will explain why basements flood, how to prevent it, and what to do if you are ever in a basement flooding situation.
All flooding incidents are categorized into three types: Clean, gray, and black. Clean water flooding is caused by water from a clean source such as a pipe in your house that supplies clean water. Gray water is waste water with minor contaminants such as dishwater and washing machine water. Black water is the most dangerous of all three. It contains toxic wastes and debris such as sewage, posing immediate health concerns.
Repairing damages can range from $11,450 to $62,880 in cost depending on the depth of the water, the category, and the size of the basement. This is because water from flooding damages not only the walls and floor of a basement, but also the plumbing, electrical, insulation, and fixtures which can cost A LOT of money and headache to repair.
The Main Causes of Basement Flooding
Unfortunately, natural disaster floods are unavoidable. But the good news is that 75% of all basement flooding is caused by improper or inadequate roof-water drainage. Obstructions to good roof water drainage (like clogged gutters and misdirected water) can cause water to collect near your house, especially if you have sandier soil. Soil with a higher concentration of sand will easily absorb water. Soil with higher concentrations of clay are less likely to absorb water and will redirect it to sandier plots. Dispensing roof water at least 10 feet from your house is a safe distance for all soil types to prevent water concentration near your home.
Having a leaky basement foundation is the next most common cause of basement flooding and can make roof drainage problems worse. Water can seep through the foundation of your home and pool in your basement if it isn’t sealed properly. Time can take a great toll on an old house: basement walls and foundations can crack, making them vulnerable if not resealed and repaired. Leaking windows can also cause water to find its way into a basement during heavy rainfall and snow melts. If water rises above the level of your basement, it WILL find a way to seep into your home through the foundation and foundation wall cracks.
Now houses generally have a drainage system built around them to prevent water from rising above the basement level. They also help move water away from the home. However, these systems can fail due to blockages, seepage, and equipment failures. If your sump pump fails during a heavy rain, your home won’t be able to keep up with the removal of water and it will flood. Pipes laid underneath the basement used to redirect water into the sewer can also deteriorate and ultimately fail over time. This can also cause the water to rise and enter your basement.
Storm Drain Backups and Sewer Blockages
Storm drain backups and blockages can also cause tremendous damage if not addressed in time. Pipes that remove storm water from your home can become blocked with debris like rotting leaves, roots, and other plant matter that gets swept up into drainage pipes. These backups can cause flooding during rain storms, and if the drain isn’t removing water quickly enough or not at all, water will begin to fill your basement. Storm drain backups and blocks are the responsibility of the city, so if you notice slow draining areas, alert your local municipal to have them clear it out immediately. Blocked storm drains can cause flooding to multiple homes near their vicinity, so if the city receives several calls from homeowners about a blocked storm drain, they will more likely go clean things up.
Flooding is also often caused by a sewer system backup or blockage. Most homes have a sanitary sewer lateral that carries waste water from your home into the main sewer line. This lateral line will degrade over time and can eventually collapse, causing a blockage. Tree roots can penetrate the pipe and hasten the process. Instead of directing waste to the sewer, this blocked pipe will begin to redirect waste back into your home through drainage pipes, your toilet, and shower drain.
The main sewer line can also become overfilled, flooding your home with waste water from the main line if its water level exceeds that of your basement. When the sewer becomes overfilled with water it is called an extraneous flow. If extra water fills the main sewer, it will become overwhelmed and unable to move waste water. Extraneous flows can happen if your downspouts and foundation drainage are connected to your sewer lateral. Having a leaking sewer lateral will also collect and direct water to the sewer, so it’s recommended to speak to a plumber about inspecting your sewer lateral to ensure it’s in good shape.
Flooding can come from internal sources as well. If a pipe that is connected directly to a water supply line or hot water tank breaks, water will leak from these pipes and flow downwards into your basement. Old pipes and aging equipment will be more likely to break and cause a leak… so keeping up with your plumbing is imperative to preventing basement flooding.
One more cause of flooding is poor lot grading, meaning that instead of your home sitting on a higher spot compared to its surroundings, it’s sitting on a lower spot, causing external water to flow towards your house and into your basement’s drainage system. This can cause overloads to the system and overwhelm your sump pump.
How to Prevent Flooding
The First Few Simple Steps:
As you can see, there are many different things that can cause a basement to flood. Luckily for you there are also many different things you can do to greatly reduce your chances of your basement flooding. When combined, these proactive tasks will prevent your basement from flooding due to controllable forces.
One action that you can take that can potentially save your basement from a flooding incident is to call your municipal’s customer service line and report any signs of disrupted storm drain activity. If your area is having a storm drain issue that multiple people in your neighborhood report, the city will need to come out and fix the issue. If the problem is never reported then there’s no way the city will know that there is a drainage problem… leading to basement flooding if the issues aren’t addressed in time.
Another easy way to help prevent flooding is to regularly clean your gutters and downspouts. Keeping your gutters free of debris is essential in maintaining good roof water diversion. If your gutters become clogged, rain water that would normally flow away from your house will fall directly next to it, causing it to collect right next to your foundation and basement walls. Keeping gutters and downspouts clean is especially important if your house is built on sandier soil since sandier soil will allow water to flow directly down into the ground near your basement.
While you’re cleaning your downspouts, also take note if they are redirecting out to your lawn or are going into the ground. There is a good chance that your downspout is connected to a sewer if you notice that it is being fed into the ground. Having a downspout connected to a sewer might be illegal in your area depending on city laws, and even if it isn’t, having that extra water running into the sewer could potentially cause a backup or overflow. It’s always best practice to have your downspouts running above ground to somewhere else away from your home.
Knowing about how your plumbing is done in your house can save you thousands of dollars in the future in flooding costs. Hiring a plumber to do a quick home inspection can be invaluable in preventing flooding to your basement. A plumber can point out areas of your home that may need repaired or replaced to keep in good working order. They can also tell you about hazards that may affect your water lines’ resilience such as trees growing above your sewer laterals, failing water pumps, and degrading foundation drainage. You can make any repairs before any serious damage happens thanks to the information a plumber can provide during an inspection.
There are also everyday things around the household that you can do to keep your plumbing in good shape! For example, pour waste oils and fats after they cool into the trash! This helps keep your drains clear. Fats and oils can solidify after being poured into a drain and cause blockages that are difficult to remove, so always dispose of these elsewhere. Using less water during heavy rainfall is also something helpful for your water removal systems when they’re under heavy load. Lowering your water usage will make your pumps’ jobs easier by giving them less water to deal with. This makes it less likely that they become overwhelmed.
Low Effort and Low Cost Prevention
Here are a few more easy and inexpensive ways to keep your basement from flooding.
- Keep catch basins near your home free of debris. These are storm sewer grates located on the street or in you front or back yard. They’re used to drain storm runoff into the storm sewer and can become clogged with leaves and twigs over time. Keeping them clear allows them to drain rain water properly and prevent water from flowing onto your property. Catch basin maintenance is the responsibility of the city, however things can become difficult to manage during wetter times in the year.
- Seal the cracks in your foundation walls and floor. The foundation usually prevents water from seeping into your basement if it is properly sealed. Over time cracks can form in your foundation due to settling of the house, allowing water to crawl in. In most cases you can simply seal the cracks from inside the basement. However bigger cracks may involve digging around the exterior of the house to fully repair. Hiring a professional foundation repair contractor would be your best option if the cracks in your foundation are substantial.
- Eliminate any holes or gaps that may allow water into your home. Check routes like service holes into the basement, gaps beneath doors, or aging window frames or wells in your basement. Repair or replace what’s necessary to ensure these do not allow water into your basement.
- Disconnect downspouts from sewer lines if they are connected. If you notice your downspouts running underground, they’re probably connecting to a sewer line. Have them disconnected and reroute them to dispense water at least 10 feet away from your home or into a rain barrel to prevent overloading the main storm sewer line.
More Expansive Yet Highly Effective Prevention
Here are a few more effective options that will cost more but have more impact:
- One effective way to effectively prevent flooding is controlling water movement around your home. You can do this by grading your lot. This means sloping ground around your home in a way that your home does not sit in a low spot. This requires changing the slope of the earth around your house and will require hired help. You can also dig a swale or ditch near you home where water will flow into or add a backfill.
- Install a weeping tile if you’ve had basement dampness or wetness problems and don’t have one already installed. Weeping tiles are critical for keeping a basement dry if you don’t have a foundation drain.
- Get a sump pit and pump to go with your weeping tile to keep water out of your basement. Water that drains into the weeping tile will collect in a sump pit to be pumped out by a sump pump. Make sure you get a powerful enough pump to keep up with the filling of the sump pit. Maintaining your sump is also important to keep it running. It’s also a good idea to consider buying a backup generator to power your pumps in the case of a power outage during a rainstorm.
- Install window wells and covers for your windows to reduce chances of water creeping through windows. Window wells will improve drainage around a window and can help route water to the foundation drainage system. A window well cover will act like a small roof to redirect water over the window and away from your home to prevent most water from encountering your window.
Some Extra Precautionary Steps
We mentioned above some steps you can take to prevent flooding in the first place. But just in case, here are some more steps that you can do just in case it decides to flood anyway. One can never be too careful, after all!
One easy thing to do is to avoid storing items on your basement floor. It is always safer to store things on a shelf if they need to be in the basement or on supports that lift things off the floor. Using water-tight plastic containers is a must if placing stored items on directly on the floor is unavoidable.
It’s also much safer and less worrisome if you avoid making your basement a high value living space. Avoid installing expensive or non-water-resistant flooring that might become damaged in the case of a flood. And try to stay away from furnishing your basement with expensive furniture and electronics. You never know when a flood might strike and fill your basement, destroying your furnishings and ruining many personal belongings. Understand the risk that is involved when working on your basement since it is impossible to remove all risk of flooding.
Our goal with these articles is to help you get the information you need to make educated choices for your home and family. If you’ve found this helpful, share it with others. If you have questions or would like to request other topics to be covered, send us a quick email! We’d love to hear from you!
Contact Us to schedule your free project consultation.
Or check out some of our projects at our Facebook page.
You can also see more articles about the industry on our Blog.