Not every wet basement is an emergency, and not every one needs a contractor. Here’s how we’d sort it, honestly, including the things you can try yourself first.
Call right away
- Water is actively coming in and spreading across the floor.
- Sewage is coming up the floor drain. That’s a health problem, and it usually means the sewer is backing up.
- The sump pump has failed during a storm, or the power is out with no backup.
- A wall is bowing or has a new horizontal crack.
- Water is near the furnace, water heater or electrical panel. Stay away from outlets and appliances sitting in water.
We answer emergency calls 24/7.
Call soon, but it can wait for an estimate
- Water shows up along the bottom of the walls after every heavy rain.
- A crack leaks during snowmelt.
- The sump runs constantly or is getting loud.
- You’re about to finish the basement or sell the house.
Try these yourself first
- Downspouts: make sure they’re connected and carry water several feet from the house.
- Grading: fill low spots so soil slopes away from the foundation.
- Window wells: clean out leaves and check the drain at the bottom.
- Humidity: if it’s only damp and musty in summer, try a dehumidifier before anything else.
- The sump: pour in a bucket of water and make sure it runs and empties.
If those don’t solve it after the next big rain, it’s time to have someone look.
What to look for in a contractor
Basement waterproofing is a licensed trade in Michigan. Ask for the license and insurance, a written price, who pulls permits, and a warranty in writing. Read our guide on hiring a waterproofing contractor.
We’re Mansour’s Innovations, a waterproofing, excavation and plumbing contractor in Shelby Township, in business since 2014 and working across Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. Call (586) 345-7292 for a free estimate. We book from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day and answer emergency calls 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should I call a waterproofing contractor instead of fixing it myself?
Call a pro when water comes in through a crack or at the wall-floor joint, when the sump pump has failed or cannot keep up, when a wall is bowing or has a horizontal crack, or when the problem keeps coming back. Those need a real system, not a patch. Simple grading or downspout fixes you can often do yourself.
2. Can I waterproof my own basement?
You can handle the outside basics like extending downspouts, sloping soil away from the house and cleaning gutters. But sealing a leaking crack or stopping water under hydrostatic pressure needs drain tile, a membrane or epoxy injection, which is specialized work that comes with a 25-year transferable warranty when we do it.
3. Is a wet basement an emergency?
Active flooding or a sewer backup is, so call right away so it can be pumped and dried before mold starts within 24 to 48 hours. A slow leak is not an overnight emergency, but it will not fix itself and gets more expensive the longer it is left.
