I'm dealing with a flooded basement after heavy rains here in Michigan. After a storm on Sunday, more rain hit on Tuesday, and I came home to find about a foot of standing water in my unfinished basement. I don't see any cracks in the foundation, so I think the water backed up from the drain. I bought a sump pump but it's not very powerful since I'm low on cash. It's pumping water out, but after 12 hours, the water level hasn't really gone down at all. Is there anything I can do to speed up the water removal process? Should I buy a second pump or call a professional even though I can't really afford it?
2 Answers
You really need to find out where that water is entering. If the soil around your home is saturated, it’s just going to keep coming in until it dries out. A second pump can help, but without stopping the water from getting in, you’re only keeping up with the inflow.
Make sure your hose is directing the water downhill and away from your house—if it’s just running back in, that can really slow things down. Also, you might have a submersible pump rather than a full sump pump. If you can, try asking around to borrow a more powerful one until your situation eases up.
Yeah, it’s definitely a submersible pump. I used a hose adapter, and the water is going out far enough not to run back in.
Make sure to mark the water level on the wall to track your progress. If it’s not dropping, it’s time to investigate where it’s leaking in.