Damp/Wet Basement

[Deleted]

I bought a house in NJ and the disclosure form asked the sellers if there were any water issues. They said that if you didn't keep the gutters cleaned, there might be "a little" water in the basement in heavy rainstorms. They lied. I was very careful about keeping the gutters cleaned and in just about any rainstorm I had water on the floor- puddles in minor rainstorms to larger amounts in bigger storms. I'd end up with a mop and a broom cleaning it all up. There was a pit with a sump pump but the latter didn't work. (The broom was to sweep water towards the sump pit.)

Finally, when I joined a new employer and got my first annual bonus, I had french drains put in. I should have done it years before, although I don't know where I would have got the $8K before that. They dig a small trench around the perimeter of the basement and put in pipes that direct water to the sump; in my case, they installed 2 sump pumps. The trench is covered with plastic panels so you can put carpeting or rugs or whatever over it. It was wonderful. I never heard the pumps go on but I never saw a drop of water in the basement either, no matter how much rain we had.

[skubikky]

Also, check that your property is well graded outside. Might require some fill to build up the grading on the outside.

[illinicheme]

The home I owned in NJ had water issues. We had a perimeter french drain system and a sump pump. That kept the basement basically dry except for a small part near the stairs where the french drain didn't go all the way around, so part of the bottom step was rotting because it was damp most of the time.

We had problems with the sump pump twice. The first time, the original sump pump failed and our basement filled with ~4 inches of water overnight (weather had been dry for days). We ended up putting in a new system. Then the battery backup on the new system failed and we got water a second time.

I now live in California, and am thrilled that our current home does not have a basement. I do not miss that NJ house.

[shanendoah]

Dealing with this right now. Our lot is big enough that it looks like we're going to go with a gravity drain instead of a sump pump (so we don't have to worry about electricity- our basement is poorly wired). We're also considering installing a plastic tile sub-floor in the one finished room down there so that if water decides to start coming up through the concrete in new places, it will be under the plastic tiles and not mold a carpet.
Cost : $5-7k.

Anyway, I would suggest calling 2-3 companies in your area who deal with wet basements and getting estimates. The inspection and estimate should all be free, so other than time, that doesn't cost you anything, and you can decide which solution works best for you.

[Deleted]

Feb 28, 2011 10:44:54 GMT -5 @illinicheme said:

We had problems with the sump pump twice. The first time, the original sump pump failed and our basement filled with ~4 inches of water overnight (weather had been dry for days). We ended up putting in a new system. Then the battery backup on the new system failed and we got water a second time.

The firm I used guaranteed their work as long as you let them in to inspect the system periodically- I think they charged $120/year for that. Yeah, it was a way for them to assure a continuing revenue stream, but I sold the house less than a year after I got the work done so never had to pay it. The new owners were happy to have the guarantee.

I agree with shanendoah- get multiple estimates. I got 3 and took the middle one. The top figure was much higher. When I told them I was going with another firm, they said that they'd sent out a guy who was new at making estimates and wanted to send someone else over. Ummm, no, I don't think so. You also learn from each what they plan to do, and sometimes they have reasons for different approaches. It's a good learning experience.

[illinicheme]

Feb 28, 2011 11:37:21 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Feb 28, 2011 10:44:54 GMT -5 @illinicheme said:

We had problems with the sump pump twice. The first time, the original sump pump failed and our basement filled with ~4 inches of water overnight (weather had been dry for days). We ended up putting in a new system. Then the battery backup on the new system failed and we got water a second time.

The firm I used guaranteed their work as long as you let them in to inspect the system periodically- I think they charged $120/year for that. Yeah, it was a way for them to assure a continuing revenue stream, but I sold the house less than a year after I got the work done so never had to pay it. The new owners were happy to have the guarantee.

We certainly read them the riot act when the backup failed. We had a work guarantee too, so it didn't cost us anything to get it fixed, but it sure sucked cleaning up the water again.

[Small Biz Owner]

Try a commercial sized dehumidifier. Costs more but drys out large areas around 1,000 square feet quickly. Lowest priced one will be about $500.00

[shanendoah]

We have a dehumidifier in the basement. If your problems are just a general dampness in the basement, its a great and fairly inexpensive solution. However, if you have actual flooding, or enough water seepage to pool, a dehumidifier is not a complete solution (though still a smart component to one).

[Deleted]

The humidity is so bad in the basement to my house that I run 3 dehumidifiers that must be emptied every day in summer. They run in separate areas (pool hall, back bedroom, workroom). But it does help. Air conditioning is a great dehumidifier, but only the bedroom has air conditioning.

[TheOtherMe]

My new house had a sump pump in the basement. I had a Watch Dog battery back up system installed in case the power goes out. This part of town has only lost power for a few minutes and the back up kicked in.

If I had any idea of how much the sump pump was going to run, I would not have bought this house. The family room is finished and there is a bathroom there, as well as the furnace and hot water heater.

It's a drainage issue in the subdivision. I'm supposed to take comfort in knowing everybody else has the same issue, but I don't. I'm not near a creek or anything like that. I think it's the location of the water table.

[Peace77]

Start with a good quality dehumidifier. Make sure to get one that has a humidity gauge and controls that you can set. Also be sure to get one that has a hose that you can put into a drain or sink so that it will empty itself. Otherwise, you will need to go to the basement and empty the water container frequently.

Depending on the size and layout of your basement it might be better to have 2 or 3 medium size units than 1 very large dehumidifier. It's best to get a unit that can remove at least 65 -75 pints of water per day. Start with one dehumidifier and see how that works out.

If you have water puddles on the floor, check to see if you have any clogged or damaged gutters.

Prices for waterproofing systems can vary widely.
I was quoted prices from several thousand to over 20k.

Get several quotes and Check with your local Better Business Bureau, Yelp.com for complaint issues.




Do you have water on the floor or walls?