Flood

[Ed62]

We've been living in our home for 18 years, and only twice had a minor leak in the basement walls.

My wife got up early this morning, and at 4 o'clock she woke me up. Our basement is flooded. Water is gushing in, mostly around the drain pipe that goes to our septic system. So far, the sump pump is still working, but is having a hard time keeping up. If it quits, we're in real trouble because I doubt I'll be able to find one for sale.

I brought wet things upstairs, at least as much as I could. Almost every tool I own is down there, but I put things up on higher ground (but still in the basement).

We have warm temperatures, which has melted the snow. We are experiencing thunder storms off and on. The ground is frozen, so it can't take the water. There is nothing I can do but wait until the stores open, so I can buy another sump pump (if I'm lucky) in case the one we have quits. If the sump pump quits, we'll likely have water up to ground level. That would mean no electric, and my tools will be ruined, along with the other things stored down there. Hopefully that won't happen.

The main problem is that the whole neighborhood is flooded, and our house is just a little lower than the street. I think it's just a matter of time until my pump quits. It's not built to pump the whole neighborhood dry.

Ed

[gary]

try to get a battery powered pump if you can. that way you can have it run even if power is out.

[Richard in Smithville]

Good luck to you Ed. I hope everything keeps plugging away until the water slows.

[Hellrazor]

Ed,

Buy some hydraulic cement and seal around that pipe. Clean anything else out down to the concrete or block at the pipe and jam the hydraulic cement in. That is the only way you will eliminate the issue in the future. You don't have to wait for everything to dry out, hydraulic cement works in wet conditions.

[JoeyGee]

I echo what Mike said. I had an issue very similar to yours, and I found the source and put in way more hydo cement than I needed, but so far it has held.

We're just downwind of you, and we are getting the massive melting ourselves today, so hopefully it will hold today...

[Ed62]

I finally got a chance to take a break. The rain has let up, although it is raining a little, and the basement is in much better shape.

We have a generator, so if we lose power we'll be OK as long as the water doesn't get high enough to hit the outlets. If it gets that high we're in trouble, but I don't think it will be that bad. Fingers remain crossed.

I appreciate the tip on the hydraulic cement. Many thanks.

Ed

[Uncle Cracker]

Ed, call your homeowners insurance company. They may have resources to help you minimize your damage (and their losses).

[kevincan]

Ed

I hope you stay dry. This weather is crazy.

When I was having trouble with my sump pump I got a new one and put it in. I kept the old one as a backup. The pump switch was not always turning it on with the old one. I hooked up a 25 ft hose to it and if the rain gets bad I drop it in the sump pit and run the hose out the window. I have only had to do this one time - after we got a ton of rain from hurricane ?.

With this weather you may have a hard time finding a pump. Hope your pump hold out.

Kevin

[Mr__Bill]

Hate to tell you this Ed, but it's raining here and it's all on it's way to you. Wish you all the luck. You may wish to dig down from the outside and stuff that hydraulic cement in the gap out there too. Hope your curtain drain is working! I am lucky that we have somewhere for all the rain water to go to and today I am glad that we have no basement.


Bill

[chopnhack]

Good luck Ed! I hope things stay dry for you. We can't afford to lose your shop tips (nor you your tools)!

[Ed62]

Thunderstorms were forecast for most of the night, last night. Luckily, we only had light rain. The basement is dry now, with the exception of a few very small spots, which will dry up before long. What a difference a day makes!

Ed

[JeffG78]

Glad to hear the water level dropped Ed. Hopefully it will stay down long enough for the whole neighborhood to dry out.

We had over a foot of snow on the ground two days ago and it all melted yesterday in the rain and 60 degree temps. Luckily, my basement is still dry. I can't wait to see what the creek in the park looks like when I walk the dog this morning. I can't remember the last time we had that much snow melt in 24 hours.

[Richard in Smithville]

Happy to hear the news Ed.

A couple of years ago, massive storms and rain fall hit the Peterborough area where a friends parents live. It's a very hilly area and they are at the bottom of one of the hills. The rain came down so fast, that many homes in the lower area were flooded. My friends parents had their basement fill to almost the top of the basement stairs. The only thing that stopped it from rising higher was an open basement window. The insurance companies were scambling for an excuse not to pay out on all the flood damage ( act of God...freak of nature...what ever ) until the government stepped is-too many home affected.

Here's to hoping you stay dry.

[Uncle Cracker]

Glad to hear that you didn't have to break out the ol' backstroke, Ed...

[jhgrady]

Some shopvac's have a drain plug, might help your sump pump.

John