The most common causes of basement flooding isn’t what you think!
When homeowners worry about basement flooding, their primary concern is heavy rainstorms and extreme weather events. And while that is something to worry about as storms are growing in intensity and frequency, you may be surprised to know that storms aren’t the number one cause of basement floods. And, even if you’re not in a high-risk flood area, you must still take precautions to protect your home from water damage.
Let’s look at the most common causes of basement flooding and offer a solution that will protect your basement and reduce cleanup time and costs.
Common Causes of Basement Flooding
Clogged Sewer Line
Sometimes called a sanitary lateral line, the sewer line is responsible for transporting wastewater from your home to a processing facility. And like all plumbing lines, it’s prone to wear and tear damage and age degradation.
Many things can affect a sewer line as it gets older. For example, it’s common for tree roots to penetrate the pipe, grow into a cluster, and clog or rupture the pipe. When this happens, you may have a sewage backup in your home that causes the basement to flood.
Another problem that affects sewer lines is when people flush the wrong materials down the drain. Too many people treat their toilets like garbage cans and flush items that should go into the trash, such as feminine hygiene products, paper towels, and the dreaded “flushable” wipes. Just because something can be flushed doesn’t mean it should be flushed, and many sewer lines become blocked because of these materials, causing a backup.
Foundation Drainage Failure
Sometimes, homes are built in low-lying areas that are wetter than higher ones. And in these instances, the foundation drainage system is crucial to keeping the groundwater level around the foundation at low levels. Like sewer lines, foundation drainage systems (drain tile) can wear out or become damaged, causing them to fail, and homeowners end up with a flooded basement.
Plumbing Problems
Every American home has a plumbing system and attached appliances prone to failure. Whether it’s a burst pipe, clogged sink, or failed water heater, plumbing problems often lead to water in the basement or other parts of the house.
Clogged Gutters
Many homeowners ignore gutter cleaning as part of their routine home maintenance. If you live in a home surrounded by trees, it’s essential to regularly clean the gutters to keep them free flowing. Overflowing gutters cause water to flow around the base of your home and can leak into the basement during heavy rains.
Failed Sump Pump
Sump pumps are useful devices for keeping your basement free from groundwater ingress. They work by collecting groundwater from the basement or foundation and pumping it away from the house. If your sump pump is old and hasn’t been well-maintained or if there’s a power failure, it may not kick on when needed, and you end up with a flooded basement.
How Much Does It Cost To Clean A Flooded Basement?
There’s no such thing as an acceptable basement flood. True, some floods bring more water than others, but any time you get water in the basement, no matter how much it is, it’s a home disaster. Not only do you risk losing valuable items, but there are also cleanup costs involved.
The average cost to clean a basement after a flood is between $3,000 and $5,000, but factors like the basement size, how long the water sat, and the type of water can drive up the cost considerably.
Consider also that failing to completely dry out the basement and all the wet materials like drywall, insulation, and woodwork will result in a mold problem in short order. Mold can be a challenging issue, especially in the basement because they’re naturally damp and humid, making them ideal breeding grounds for mold spores.
Your home insurance may or may not help, depending on the cause of the flooding. In most cases, home insurance policies cover damage resulting from flooding from burst pipes, broken appliances, and localized overflow. However, most policies don’t cover flooding resulting from storms, sump pump failure, or sewer backups.
Basement Flood Protection Through EnduraFlood™
While there’s nothing you can do to guarantee you’ll never experience a flooded basement, there are steps you can take to minimize the damage and cleanup costs, like installing EnduraFlood Flood-Proof Wall Panels in your basement.
EnduraFlood is a unique wall paneling system that replaces the portion of drywall you would generally have to remove and replace after a flood. Our wall panels are made from concrete and designed to withstand submersion for as long as it takes to pump the water out of your basement.
Another unique feature is that EnduraFlood panels are easy to remove and replace if you need to allow the area behind the wall to dry out. This is more efficient and cost-effective than constantly replacing drywall from water damage.
Finally, EnduraFlood wall panels are gorgeously designed after traditional wainscoting, making them a perfect solution to give your finished basement an upscale, contemporary look.
If you’re interested in how EnduraFlood works and how well it will integrate into your home, contact us today.