Basement Flooding — More Than “Once In A Lifetime”!
by Jacques Bouchard
Homeowners can go years without using their battery backup sump pump system. But, as is being discovered in the Northeast these past few months, when you DO need a battery backup — you really need it!
Between Hurricane Irene last August and the freak snowstorm that knocked out power for more than three million homes this week, residents from Maryland to Maine have seen firsthand just how easily a major storm can shut down the power for hours, days, or more.
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Basement Flood: When Mother Nature is Not to Blame
When we think basement flooding, the first thing that comes to mind are torrential downpours, summer storms with thunder and lightning, knocking down trees and power lines. Some of us, usually the ones with chronically damp basements, might even think snow melt.
Very few take into consideration that Mother Nature is absolutely not the only one that can cause a basement flood. Truth is that there is no such a thing as a flood safe basement.
Think about it. Your basement is box buried below grade. Any water that gets into it can only get out if pumped upwards. You can’t rely on gravity to get rid of it.
Pipes run through the basement, and it usually houses water heater tanks and cold water tanks, as well as washing machines. All of which have the potential to leak and malfunction, putting your basement underwater.
And let’s not forget running toilettes, overflowing sinks, backed up drains and all the small accidents that can happen upstairs and cause water to pour into the basement.
It is not a matter of if, but when your unprotected basement is going to flood.
read more6 Common Sump Pump Problems and What to Do About Them
A good sump pump, tied to a properly installed, working foundation drainage system is a homeowner’s first line of defense against basement flood.
Sump pump failure, on the other hand, is the cause of many basement floods.
Sump pumps are mechanical devices, therefore prone to malfunction, and they need a source of power to work.
They can also be improperly installed, which can interfere with the way they function and, since there are so many types, brands, models and capacities, it is hard for a homeowner without the proper knowledge, to pick the right pump for the job.
read moreRecovering from a Basement Flood
One day, you go down in the basement after a heavy rain and find it under water. Your possessions soaking or drifting in the pool it now became.
You look at the picture with a mix of disbelief and dismay. It might take a minute before you become overwhelmed by worry, contemplating cleanup costs, losses, damages, the hard work ahead, the mess.
Will the furnace still work? How about the water heater?
You decide you need to do something, but you don’t know what or where to start. You need to call for help but doesn’t know who to call.
This article will give you a step-by-step guide to recovering from basement flooding and taking all the necessary steps to prevent that from happening again.
A happy #CT customer blogs about how TripleSafe kept the basement dry.
Connecticut Basement Systems came out about three days later and put in the sump pump. It’s truly a beast. See boring picture below.It rained heavily a few days later, and lo and behold, the sump pump works! No water AT ALL. We could hear it click on and flush out the water intermittently, so we know there was definitely the possibility of damage if we had done nothing.
This is an excerpt from the blog, which explains in detail how this Connecticut customer’s basement was flooded twice, between February and March 2010. The last time, it happened while they were on vacation.
They called us, and their once flood-prone basement is now dry, despite the heavy rains that have been hitting the East Coast this spring.
Can You Afford a Wet Basement?
A Wet Basement can be a huge financial burden
Your Wet Basement May Be Costing You More Money Than You Would Pay to Have it Fixed
Your basement is unsightly, unpleasant, and uncomfortable. It is dark, dingy and smells horribly. However, since you only use it to store some items or as a laundry room, you don’t really care much about how your
basement looks and feels like. You only go there when strictly necessary and rarely spend more than a few minutes in it.Truth is that your cave-like basement is more than just an eye sore. It might be costing you a lot of money as well, and in more than one way.
