Why Does My Chicago Basement Flood?

When you head down to the basement to do the laundry or pull something out of storage only to find a flood, it’s an upsetting thing. Whether there is standing water or just lots of moisture on the walls and floor, basement flooding requires immediate action.

At Four Seasons Plumbing & Sewer, we recommend that you shut off power to the basement area, if safe and possible. Water can contact the appliances and wiring in the basement and cause electric shock hazards. Chicago homeowners can also give us a call to check out the issue and identify the source of the problem.

Potential Causes of Basement Flooding

There are many ways that flooding or moisture can make its way into the basement. Our contractors can quickly diagnose the specific cause of your problem and provide a permanent and effective solution. When inspecting your basement plumbing and foundation, the contractor will likely look out for one of the following issues:

• High Water Table: If your home is built on a low-lying area of land or an area with a high water table, groundwater is naturally going to want to flow into the basement through any cracks and porous sections in the foundation.
• Poor Drainage: Most homes are built with a surrounding drainage system in place. This system can become compromised over time or just be installed improperly.
• Broken Sump Pump: When you have a sump pump system already in place, it may have failed to allow water to build up again.
• Water Leak: The basement plumbing or water heater may be compromised and leak water. In this case, we can stop the problem by shutting off the main water valve to the house.
• Gutter Problems: The gutters are meant to funnel rainwater from the roof and away from the home’s foundation. When the gutters are overflowing, water spills over the sides and falls directly beside the house. Short gutter downspouts may also not be draining the water far enough away from the home foundation to be effective.

• Sewer Blockage: Water can back up through the drains in the basement if there is a blockage in the sewer pipe, or the sewer system is overfilled. This can sometimes occur when a lot of rainfall occurs in a short period of time.

Get the Answers to Basement Flooding in Chicago

Recurring issues with basement flooding limit the use of this area of the home and cause more serious damage in the long run. We can help you track down the source of the flood and come up with the right repair solution. Give Four Seasons Plumbing & Sewer a call or fill out our online form to arrange an appointment for emergency plumbing services right away.