What is the Biggest Cause of Storm Flooding for Wichita Basements?

10/14/2020 (Permalink)

Sometimes having an extra fresh sump pump ready to switch out in case the current one breaks is a good idea if you are handy!

The easy answer to this question is water, which is true, but fails to be of any use. There are many reasons Wichitian’s basements flood. Sometimes flooding occurs in someone’s basement from storms because a change has been made in landscaping (your property or even your neighbors) which has changed the flow of water on the property. In our 20 years of experience serving the Wichita and surrounding areas in water damage the number 1 source of basement flooding during storms is sump pump failure.

Sump pump failure can come in many forms. Sump pumps can burn out from working too hard or being too old. Sometimes they simply can’t keep up with a torrential downpour or the power can go out on a perfectly functioning sump pump and flood your basement. We have a wealth of experience and expertise in helping you come back dry and clean from a flood and in case you are dealing with a flooded basement right now here are some tips for what to do until help arrives.

We also have picked lots of information for how to prevent your basement from flooding. Here are our top 3 ways to prevent your basement from flooding during a rain event in Wichita, KS.

Number 1: Once a year perform Sump Pump Maintenance:

• Make sure it is plugged into GFCI
• Make sure the cord is not damaged
• Make sure the pump is secured in an upright and level position or it will not work
• Make sure to unplug the pump before performing the following:
  • Inspect the intake, discharge pipe and ventilation hole for any blockages
• Test your sump pump by taking a 5 gallon bucket of water and pouring it slowly into your sump pit slowly until the float triggers the pump to begin its work.
  • The pump should pump the water out until the water reaches the floats shutoff level

Number 2: Have a back-up pump installed.

There are typically 2 options for back-up sump pumps. battery powered and water powered which both have their advantages and disadvantages. We typically would suggest you go with a water powered back-up because battery powered back-ups often run out of power and will not prevent a flood if the power is out for too long or if the pump itself breaks down. Your home may call for a different solution though so check out this comparison between the two systems to see which is right for you.

Number 3: Preemptively manage your homes drainage.

Make sure your gutters are cleaned once a year and add gutter extensions where it makes sense. Install french drains to supplement how much water you are moving away from your home. Get a landscaping company to regrade your yard which will minimize the load on your sump pump and reduce the risk it getting overwhelmed or burnt out from large volumes of water.

Our final piece of advice is to give us a call if you do have any flooding issues for a free estimate at 316-684-6700.