Cellar Flooding from Neighbor?
While working on my cellar the past few weeks, my contractor told me that whenever it rains heavily (which it has been, obviously) there is a puddle of water that forms on the side of my cellar. My building sits slightly below the neighboring property and he thought that the water was coming in from…
While working on my cellar the past few weeks, my contractor told me that whenever it rains heavily (which it has been, obviously) there is a puddle of water that forms on the side of my cellar. My building sits slightly below the neighboring property and he thought that the water was coming in from a broken sewer pipe or something. I stood outside today in the rain in front of the neighbor’s property and I don’t see any flooding in the area where the puddle is forming. (His house is set back about 15 feet from mine, so the sewer pipe would be underground in his yard(?). I would assume the pipe is my neighbor’s responsibility? Is there any way of checking to be sure?
I spoke with my neighbor last night and it looks like water is seeping in from my cracked wall along his property. He happened to have a pile of debris right at that spot, which was why so much water went into my basement because it was accumulating in that spot. The previous owners did a terrible waterproofing/plastering job on the walls so now it needs to be redone. I am so glad it was not the neighbor’s sewer line because now I can patch the wall up without involving him. Does anyone know a good waterproofing/plastering person? I’ll need 3 exterior walls done. Thanks for everyone’s help!
I had the same problem, and after many plumber visits, we discovered that my neighbors sump pump was actually routing their water into my basement instead of into the sewer. Had their sump pump fixed, my water problem was fixed.
a dep violation will cure nothing, just alienate your neighbor
I will try your suggestions. Thanks!!
contact the DEP on 311. They will arrange someone to come look at it. If it is coming from your neighbor they will issue a violation. If it is a city sewer or water problem they will fix it. If it is just from the street(some streets used to be a stream and then its a riparian problem) and you have to fix that your self but they should help id the problem. Good luck it is playing Mr. Holmes and can be a real pain until you know the problem.
PS I have a sump pump in mu basement because Bergen Street used to be a stream….
The seepage could be coming from various places/ways…and remember, water ALWAYS runs to the lowest point possible.
1. seepage from the exterior of your homes through a gap/crack between the homes
2. seepage through the neighbor’s basement (are they having water issues?) into your basement
3. Due to all the rain, ground water (from above and below) seeping to the lowest point, your basement
4. Leaks from either/both of your rooflines, with water following along the common party wall, then going to the lowest point…your basement
Either way, you want to try to fix the leak/seepage issue from the exterior first, then from the interior attempt to water proof. Depending on your foundation type (cobbled, brick, concrete) you may be able to find the source and patch it w/ hydrologic cement they use a masonry sealer like UGL.
And this I know first hand, so I know what a pain in the rear this can be dealing with, then playing Sherlock Homes to find the water seepage. Good luck.
See: http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forum/archives/2009/06/water_seeping_i.php
Maybe this is the problem.