Flooding basement problems

[eeyore]

I don't have a basement in my present domicile, but have heard of flooding of them from this last storm that came through. So here are a few of my thoughts and experiences.

I have helped a couple of people in the past with basement flooding. The biggest rule is try to keep water away from your foundation in the first place. Either with extended down spouts from your gutters or raising the level of soil at the building so water has positive flow away from they foundation.
The first basement i helped with someone that had a welled stairway entrance into their basement. It had a drain at the bottom that would clog with leaves and then flood into the basement. What we did was placed a cover over the welled entrance which shed water and debris from getting down there.
The second basement i helped with the man rented a backhoe, exposed his foundation down to the footing, cleaned it then tarred it and covered with 6 mil poly then recovered the foundation walls. He also installed a battery operated sump pump for extra insurance.

[Grinnan Barrett]

Having had basement shelters in past I can say one thing, the preparation of the floor and walls is critical to keeping it dry. A vapor barrier under the floor and proper drainage around the foundation is a must. Walls need to be tarred on the outside at a minimum. A real engineering survey is also a must. My first one was a disaster all by itself. It cost thousands to fix what should have cost a couple of hundred if done up front.

[610Alpha]

After watching "Holmes on Homes" for several years he has shown me that you have to tar the outside wall, use a plastic barrier that has a nip+ple backing attached to the wall, and good drainage around the base. Our home had to have the basement dewatering system replaced....$$$. We have 2 sump pumps at 2 diff locations....I have been thinking about buying a spare one just to have it on hand and getting a genny JIC.

[trapper]

You can also put a check valve on your sewer pipe to prevent the sewer from backing up into your basement , I would instal it in your basement so you can clean with out having to dig it up.

[eeyore]

After watching "Holmes on Homes" for several years he has shown me that you have to tar the outside wall, use a plastic barrier that has a nip+ple backing attached to the wall, and good drainage around the base. Our home had to have the basement dewatering system replaced....$$$. We have 2 sump pumps at 2 diff locations....I have been thinking about buying a spare one just to have it on hand and getting a genny JIC.

Elittle, The man with the welled entrance installed a pit in his house that uses a bilge pump (like for a boat) that uses 12 volt for his back up. It is a little bit of inconvenience hooking up it each time (putting the bilge pump in the sump and hook a battery to it and then running the hose outside, but it is cheap insurance (or as you said "JIC")