Flooded Basements

[james t kirk]

Reminds me of the "Great Chicago Leak" back in the 90's when a contractor driving piles in the river punctured an old abandonned service tunnel from the 1800's. The water from the river drained into many of the major downtown buildings - filling them with river water. No-one could figure out where the water was coming from (there were fish seen swimming in the basements and parking garages of buildings). It was only a radio reporter who went out to see it for himself who crossed a bridge and noticed water "toilet bowling" in the river.

Anyway, needless to say, no-one wanted to pay. Especially the insurance companies. The insuracne companies all said it was a flood and they don't insure floods. The local residents all said it wasn't a flood, it was a leak and as such, the insurance companies were on the hook. So everyone started calling it the "Great Chicago Leak"

 

[Rockslinger]

As to the cost of a flooded basement - it could easily run 50k. In a heart beat. You get 2 feet of sewer effluent in your basement and you can write off your furnace, your washer, dryer, TV, finished floor, walls, electrical, you name it.

Plus, this guy said that was where he had his home office. I never had a flooded basement but there have been the rare occasion when the floor got slightly wet after a hard storm (none recently).

 

[elmufdvr]

we had our basment flood in a few years back.. we had flood insurance and was covered. others neighbors wernt so lucky. so for the 50 or extra dollars, add it to your policy .. best 50 we spent.. the insurance quote was about $35,000.00.. 25g for repairs and clean up and 20 for contents loss...

 

[Rockslinger]

I have a sump pump.

Does your sump pump have its own power source?

 

[Gentle Ben]

I have a sump pump. And an ADT alarm on the sump pump in case it malfunctions and water begins to fill up. Oh, and my policy covers flooding as well.

and then what? do you have back up power and pump?

 

[misterdaty]

.. that's what these are used for...
http://www.basepump.com/Basepump.htm

 

[james t kirk]

It's best to keep the water out of your basement period, and not rely on a sump pump.

If a sewer were start emptying in your basement, I doubt a sump pump could keep up anyway. Never mind the fact that the floor will still get soaked with sewage.

 

[oldjones]

It's best to keep the water out of your basement period, and not rely on a sump pump.

If a sewer were start emptying in your basement, I doubt a sump pump could keep up anyway. Never mind the fact that the floor will still get soaked with sewage.

And along similar lines, don't put stuff into the basement that can be damaged by water. If you feel compelled to do something so risky, that's what insurance is for. Be sure yours covers the value of the items and the cause of the damage.

Floods have 'finished' many a basement.

 

[Gentle Ben]

It's best to keep the water out of your basement period, and not rely on a sump pump.

If a sewer were start emptying in your basement, I doubt a sump pump could keep up anyway. Never mind the fact that the floor will still get soaked with sewage.

sump pump is required by code in many areas in Ontario ... they aren't meant for sewage but rather to pump out the rainwater/groundwater from your weeping tiles...

 

[jaycam]

sump pump is required by code in many areas in Ontario ... they aren't meant for sewage but rather to pump out the rainwater/groundwater from your weeping tiles...

Sump pumps are only required in Ontario if don't have a municipal storm sewer to tie in your weeping tiles. In Toronto you do find them with new builds in old service areas with "combined sewers".

 

[EntertainmentMan2000]

all the SP's that are charging big time dough should be helping out donating to some of these people

 

[james t kirk]

sump pump is required by code in many areas in Ontario ... they aren't meant for sewage but rather to pump out the rainwater/groundwater from your weeping tiles...

I know that.

If you read the previous posts, the inference is that if the basement was to flood due to a major rain event causing the sanitary drain of the house to blast raw sewage into the basement that the sump pump would be able to handle the sewage that would come in from the city's sanitary sewer.

My position is that the sump pump would never be able to keep up and it's best to keep the sanitary effluent outside the basement through the use of a backflow preventor.

 

[gar]

Sump pumps are only required in Ontario if don't have a municipal storm sewer to tie in your weeping tiles. In Toronto you do find them with new builds in old service areas with "combined sewers".

The city wants the water discharged from your sump pump onto your own property. I've never had an inspector who let me run the sump pump into the sewer lines.

 

[oldjones]

And in my century old neighbourhood you do see the discharge hoses on some of our postage stamp lawns. Running the discharge into the sewer that was backing up and causing the problem would appear to be self-defeating.

 

[james t kirk]

I found this on the CHMC's website.

Some good info

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/gemare/gemare_002.cfm

 

[Sandra Baxter]

I know that.

If you read the previous posts, the inference is that if the basement was to flood due to a major rain event causing the sanitary drain of the house to blast raw sewage into the basement that the sump pump would be able to handle the sewage that would come in from the city's sanitary sewer.

My position is that the sump pump would never be able to keep up and it's best to keep the sanitary effluent outside the basement through the use of a backflow preventor.

Backwater valve.

You didn't know that.

 

[james t kirk]

Backwater valve.

You didn't know that.

Do you also correct grammar?

It's also known as a backflow preventor or a backflow valve. Whatever you prefer.

Example:

 

[Sandra Baxter]

Do you also correct grammar?

It's also known as a backflow preventor or a backflow valve. Whatever you prefer.

Example:

No they are two different things.

 

[Butler1000]

Judging from the weather tonight good luck to all of you! I fontunately have the luxury of a house that has never seen a basement flood on its 50+ year history. Excuse me while I fing some godd knocking wood!