Is there anything we can do to help prevent or minimize flooding in a finished basement?

December 22, 2007 12:07 PM

Is there anything we can do to help prevent or minimize flooding in a finished basement?

My boyfriend and I have just signed a lease to rent a townhouse with a large basement in NYC (which in itself is an anomaly, but that's another discussion). We'd like to use the basement as an extra bedroom for guests and as a place for my boyfriend's "office", but we're concerned about potential water damage from flooding.

The basement itself is finished, but with linoleum floors unlike the hard-wood floors in the rest of the house. We saw the place before it was cleaned, and it is clear that there is some water damage to the tiling, although it doesn't look like the water was very high. Also, there is evidence that the previous tenants didn't take very good care of the basement, so it's hard to tell what was the result of unavoidable flooding and what was just their lack of care.

Other details that might be relevant: the basement has 4 windows, and a door that leads to an outside "shed" with a small drainage hole in the center. It houses the electrical/ hot water/ boiler for the building, and also has a connection to the NYC sewage pipes (that's something I'm hoping we don't have to mess with). There's a washer/dryer and bathroom in the basement, so it's clear that the basement is functional at least some of the time.

I've read several threads on MeFi about clearing out water from an already flooded basement, but I'd like tips about preventing it or minimizing the damage. We understand that some water might be unavoidable, but we'd like to keep the space functional. Our landlord isn't going to provide much in the way of service for this problem, if it occurs, so it's pretty much up to us.

Suggestions? Experience? Thanks!

posted by designmartini to home & garden (7 comments total)

Forgot to mention: the basement has no smell of dampness or mold whatsoever right now, and it's winter in NYC.
posted by designmartini at 12:11 PM on December 22, 2007

Check to see if the downspouts have extensions that lead as far away from the building as possible (this will depend on where the building is relative to the sidewalk, how much backyard --if any--you've got, etc.).

If you've got a yard or something similar, look at the grading. If the ground slopes down towards the building, that's an issue--you want it to slope the other way.
posted by thomas j wise at 1:10 PM on December 22, 2007

If there is a sump pump make sure it is operating properly. If the windows are ground level make sure they have drains in the window wells or are graded well enough to make sure that water can't back up under the windows. If if is a walk out basement make sure that there is a functioning drain at the foot of the stairwell and that the grading around the stairs encourages water away from that area. You also might want to look at all the gutters and make sure they are funneling water to the downspouts properly. Clogged or otherwise broken gutters will cause water to pool where it doesn't belong, near windows or doorways where leaks are more likely.
posted by COD at 1:17 PM on December 22, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Seconding sump pump (if you have one - othervise, perhaps install one, it rather cheap, compared to the damage othervise.)

And checking the slope towards or away from the house.

And do talk to the old tenants if possible - now when you renting the place, they don't have any incentive to hide the truth from you.

Besides that: Do prepare for a flood, at least as high as the "evidence" show. No stuff on the floor, put everything on shelves. Only use flooring that can be ripped out or withstand water. Anyway that's good advice, it makes it easy to clean the floors ;-)

Here in Sweden we have a warningsystem that alerts us to unsuitable amounts of water: We have a buzzer-tone, but I guess other systems are available. Sorry, no name of the system. That'll make you aware of the acute problem, if it arises.

Take care.
posted by Rabarberofficer at 2:24 PM on December 22, 2007

I'll second checking the downspots and making sure there's really good drainage - my basement stopped flooding when we did this. Also, you might want to look into renter's insurance, just in case something does happen.
posted by fermezporte at 7:14 PM on December 22, 2007

sump pump plus sump alarm is obligatory

the most likely cause of flooding is going to be the window wells, so check the wells have drains and check the drains actually work.

I've actually watched water flooding into an otherwise well-built basement from window wells that were 8-12" full of water because the downpour had pushed leaf debris into the window wells, blocking the previously clear drains.

So in the event of a powerful rain event you need to keep a close eye on the basement. By the time the sump alarm goes off it may be too late.
posted by unSane at 7:17 PM on December 22, 2007

A friend has 3 sump pumps and it still floods, but they know a hardware store that rents auxilliary pumps, in case of emergency. It might not hurt to scout that option in advance of need, and see if that is available in your area. You could minimize the damage if the worst happens.
posted by unrepentanthippie at 11:38 AM on December 23, 2007