LANCASTER, Pa. — Central Pennsylvania is still expected to feel the effects of flooding into the weekend and with another storm heading this way, it may be time to double-check a home’s sump pump.
Flooded basements can happen suddenly, especially when your home isn’t prepared for extreme weather.
Joey Baker, the emergency recovery coordinator from Paul Davis Restoration in Lancaster County, says the most common causes of basement floods are clogged drains and slow sump pumps.
“They’re going to get all of that water and get it away from your house and your foundation, so it doesn’t cause additional issues, it’s vital to have them in operating condition,” Baker said.
Sump pumps remove water from the lowest point of a home.
Members of the Paul Davis team have already responded to more than 10 calls about flooded basements, resulting from malfunctioning sump pumps and poor drainage.
“Now you have an issue if you have a finished basement, if you have drywall, carpet, pad, you have furniture down there, your kids’ toys, all that stuff can be affected,” said Antonio Santiago, a mitigation manager.
Cleanup and repairs can cost homeowners thousands of dollars.
“It can range from five- to ten-thousand-ish to quadruple that, it just really depends on the square footage, how big is your basement and what’s happening down in that basement,” Santiago said.
Flooded basements can also be dangerous depending on what’s down there.
“I’ve had people underneath that stuff where they’re walking, they’re trying to fix things, they’re grabbing things, and all of sudden things just collapse on them,” Santiago added.
Routine maintenance checks around your home could mean the difference in staying dry.
“Any water from snowmelt or just from all the rain we’ve been getting, you want that going away from your foundation,” Baker said.
Experts also encourage homeowners to consider flood insurance policies that could save people out-of-pocket costs in the future.