Basement seepage after rain. Dry it now, fix the cause later.

Groundwater that came through the wall is not sewage, but a basement that stays damp past 48 hours is where mold starts.

What is probably happening

• Hydrostatic pressure pushed rainwater through the cove joint, a floor crack or a wall crack. Or the sump pump quit and the pit overflowed.
• Ground water that has crossed soil is contaminated; a restorer will usually treat it as at least Category 2 under IICRC S500 and price it that way.
• If it only happens after heavy rain, it is a drainage problem, and it will come back.

Do this in the next five minutes

1. Check the sump pit. If the pump is not running, check its plug and breaker before anything else.
2. Move boxes and anything cardboard off the floor. Get it up on blocks or out.
3. Rubber boots. Ground water can carry whatever the soil had in it.
4. Once the water is off the floor, run fans and a dehumidifier and open doors between rooms.
5. Photograph the water line on the walls and the wet items.
6. Note where it came in. Wet streaks on a wall or a wet crack tell the waterproofer where to look.

Do not

• Do not run a plugged-in pump or vacuum while standing in the water (CDC).
• Do not paint or seal the wall while it is still wet. It will fail.
• Do not sign a waterproofing contract from a company that turned up in the storm. Get the basement dry first, then three bids.

Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out

Tap each one as you ask it.

• What category are you assigning to ground water, and why?
• Will you moisture test the bottom of the drywall and the slab, and leave a daily log?
• Does the finished wall need to be opened, or only the baseboard?
• Separate question for later: is a sump pump with battery backup the fix, or does the grading and downspouts need to change first?

End the call if

• A waterproofing sales pitch bundled into the drying quote.
• A large deposit before equipment is set.
• A knock on the door during or right after the storm.