Well, it happened - water in basement!

debodun said:
To what does this comment refer? There is no standing water except a small 6" puddle in the laundry. Most of the water is now in the carpet - a tough place to just wet-vac out.
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reply to all who want to pump water from the basement if sump pit quit. You can buy a wet vac for the carpet. U will be surprised. Much cheaper than a new carpet, also a carpet shampoo’s for the stains left.

I had to do several times during and after cloudbursts knocked out the power.
Wet vac for 1/2” and rugs etc. 12 volt pump will pump hundreds of gallons down the drive in a couple of hours. Even pump wet vac dry till sump pump/sewer works again.

If your basement has a check ball in the drain you may need to clean it of crud.
Mine also had hair and stuff around it thus the backup. since then I have added a Computer / office / mancave and pay more attention to the basement. The stuff stored in the basement set up over a foot off the floor or hangs on hangers and shelving. Having good reliable stuff works well and is far less expensive than Pro’s in the scope of things. Just more into it housekeeping for sure. Not easy.
It fixes a lot of us but not all can do it either. Tough call or easy calls. Let go for a month or so becomes a health hazard, unlivable dwelling.
 

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Aunt Bea said:
Would it be possible to gradually move the damaged items to the garage and set them out with your normal trash over several weeks?

Probably many items would be scavenged before the trash man arrives.

I know it’s a lot of work but it’s also a lot of good exercise. 😉
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Great suggestion. Very cost effective & gets progress on removing damaged "stuff". If getting rid of the carpet is going to be included because the potential of black mold trapped under it.

This could be cost effective.

@ Home Depot
Retractable Utility Knife
$2.47
Ergonomic, comfort grip handle
Includes 3 extra utility blades
Lockable and retractable when not in use

Cutting small squares that could be easily carried and disposed of as you suggested.

I think it's understood much of this stuff Deb holds fond memories of. She could take pictures of the stuff she holds most dear so that she could view them without having to sift thru a lot of items.
 
debodun said:
Things will eventually get resolved. My biggest problem is finding people to help. I am still a bit miffed about the unresponsiveness of the clean-out companies.
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The First thing you need to do is to locate the "Source" of the leak. A contractor/repairman might Not be able to do so until he is there during another heavy rain. You need to remove as much "Stuff" as possible, including the rug,, and do a close inspection of the floor and walls. If nothing obvious appears, you will likely have to wait until the next big storm, then stay in the basement with a strong flashlight, and watch for any water coming in.

Once the point where the water is coming in is located, then repairs can begin., If the "finished" part of the basement has paneling or drywall on the walls, there is a good chance that the problem is in that area....which will make the repairs more difficult and expensive.

This will not be a "quick fix", and may take some time to identify the source of the problem. In the interim, you need to get the sump pump working, and install a dehumidifier in the basement. If you buy a dehumidifier, put it on a table or shelf so it doesn't get "swamped" during your next flooding.
 

I didn't go in the cellar today. I had meals to deliver and didn't want to get all hot and bothered beforehand after showering. When I got home, I was just too tired and it's very warm and muggy. Perhaps the high humidity is why some items drying out on the deck are still moist. There is a heavy cable-knit sweater (my moms because I don't wear heavy sweaters) and the arms are still damp. I only have tomorrow because a rainy weekend is shaping up and the water remediation man is supposed to arrive at 9 am. After I bring a box or bag up, I'm so out of breath and heart is pounding, it takes several minutes for me to recover.
 
A 15 cubic yard trailer measures 14 feet long x 7 feet wide x 4.5 feet high. Don is correct regarding how much trash you plan to put in it, is where the price would be.
 
debodun said:
I didn't go in the cellar today. I had meals to deliver and didn't want to get all hot and bothered beforehand after showering. When I got home, I was just too tired and it's very warm and muggy. Perhaps the high humidity is why some items drying out on the deck are still moist. There is a heavy cable-knit sweater (my moms because I don't wear heavy sweaters) and the arms are still damp. I only have tomorrow because a rainy weekend is shaping up and the water remediation man is supposed to arrive at 9 am. After I bring a box or bag up, I'm so out of breath and heart is pounding, it takes several minutes for me to recover.
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Deb, be careful.
Get rid of the old clothes, no matter whose they were. I know you're sentimental and losing your beloved parents were great blows to you. But lugging around their old stuff is beginning to wear on your health.
 
A problem you might encounter is having no credit card. Before you even start loading this thing up, he’ll probably ask for your credit card. They weigh the dumpster before you start and then weigh it when you’re finished.
You might want to give him a few hundred as a ‘good faith’ deposit. Anyway that’s up to you and him.
 
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As long as the guy that quoted you comes through, no need to worry. You could probably dump most of the stuff yourself and leave the heavy stuff for them to get when they come to get the dumpster
 
debodun said:
I did have to go down there just now to close the windows. Rumbles of thunder and darkening skies bode a storm coming and I don't want any more water in there than there already is. However, the carpet at the bottom of the stairs didn't squish when I stepped on it, but that carpeting will still have to go.
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yep and the sooner the better because the damp from it will cause mold spores throughout the house..
 
I’m sure you have items from your parents in the house that aren’t damaged. I would throw everything in the basement away that got wet. When I moved to my small condo I kept one item each from my parents and grandparents to remember them by.

Most importantly I have pictures and many great memories as I’m sure you do too. Sending hugs because this type of situation really sucks 🤗.
 
I wasn't happy with what the water remediation guy said. He only seemed interested in replacing the sump pump. His quote:
Zoeller 1/3 hp pump with new PVC pipes and buried discharge - $975
with battery backup - $1925

I insisted to be given a price on a dehumidifier. He grudgingly said he could do an AprilAire for $1849.

Then I asked about the carpet which really turned me off on this guy. He response was in effect - if this is the first time the carpet has been wet in 3 years, it probably doesn't have to be removed. Just put some fans down there.
 
debodun said:
I wasn't happy with what the water remediation guy said. He only seemed interested in replacing the sump pump. His quote:
Zoeller 1/3 hp pump with new PVC pipes and buried discharge - $975
with battery backup - $1925

I insisted to be given a price on a dehumidifier. He grudgingly said he could do an AprilAire for $1849.

Then I asked about the carpet which really turned me off on this guy. He response was in effect - if this is the first time the carpet has been wet in 3 years, it probably doesn't have to be removed. Just put some fans down there.
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Get more quotes, Deb.
 
I called another water remediation company and was informed that, "We just don't have the resources available right now." She suggested I call a local contractor. She also said they "don't do sump pumps."
 
debodun said:
I wasn't happy with what the water remediation guy said. He only seemed interested in replacing the sump pump. His quote:
Zoeller 1/3 hp pump with new PVC pipes and buried discharge - $975
with battery backup - $1925

I insisted to be given a price on a dehumidifier. He grudgingly said he could do an AprilAire for $1849.

Then I asked about the carpet which really turned me off on this guy. He response was in effect - if this is the first time the carpet has been wet in 3 years, it probably doesn't have to be removed. Just put some fans down there.
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His price for the sump pump replacement is fairly reasonable. The pump alone would cost at least $300 at the store....the installation and piping could take some time to do properly....hence, labor costs. I doubt that battery backup would be necessary.

He is quoting you a dehumidifier price for a "whole house" dehumidifier system that would be part of your HVAC system. A $200/$300 "stand alone" unit from Walmart/Lowe's/Menards with a drain hose to the sump pump would do a good job in the basement.

The soaked carpet needs to be removed. Even with a dehumidifier it could take weeks to dry completely, and would likely be a endless source of a "musky" odor.

The Bad Thing is that the Hurricane season is Not over, and there may be more major storms moving up the Atlantic coast that could hit your area with more major rainfalls....which would take you back to "step one".

At any rate, you need to move forward with this repair....or live with a flooded basement every year. It sounds like your finances are in good shape, and with No children, etc., to worry about, you need to "finance" your own needs.
 
Many times on homes built 50 / 75 years ago the soil pipe, where the vertical pipe goes up thru the roof, well in the ground the pipe rusts off, stuff like back up, The Throne flushing problems then occur. Sanitary sewer back up due to water psi. Back thru the floor drain also.

That may call for / needs cement broken up new installed with valve in the floor drain and floor repaired in the area of the dig. That may include the sump pump pit & likely with the route you may be choosing. Reseal the basement wall most likely at the floor. Maybe cement jacking the floor ? Drill holes and force the floor support better.

If all your neighbors have that problem you obviously need a back up pumping system working via battery also in there. 6’ of water is a disaster.

Go thru it once, fix it right. A loan most likely but once is enough.
 
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