Wet basement floors after storm, strong sewage smell

Hi all,

I almost hesitate to post this since our damage was so minor compared to others, but we’re a bit at a loss for what to do.

Though everything seemed fine after the rain last night, starting late morning today our basement has reeked of sewage. There is no obvious leak but the floors generally look moist (see photo), almost as if the water is seeping up from the ground.

We are a self managed coop in Brooklyn Heights in a converted 1840s townhouse. Some residents have been here since the 80s and have not seen this before so we don’t know what to do. Spray diluted bleach on the floor? Call a waterproofing company? Would very much appreciate any thoughts or advice. Thank you and I hope your basements are doing better than ours. [13BFEEF8-542A-42BD-BE40-F1F69A6EEC49](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:sLoR:13bfeef8542a42bdbe40f1f69a6eec49.jpeg.jpg)

StoopLady

in General Discussion 3 years and 8 months ago

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StoopLady | 3 years and 8 months ago

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@colonialrevival Thank you! I’ll mention this. Sounds like a job for a pro…

colonialrevival | 3 years and 8 months ago

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@Slimc jackhammer up the concrete and replace. Cast iron pipe is good for about 50-100 years.

@Stooplady a camera inspection is usually your best bet, but ground saturation and sewage smell despite no sewage would be an indicator as well. You may also want have whoever you come by to check where the main trap connects to the waste line or sewer under the street.

Putnamdenizen | 3 years and 8 months ago

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From what I can see I had about 4 inches of water in my dirt floored basement. The sewage line out is broken, so I am thinking I must have had overflow coming into the basement. Gross…

StoopLady | 3 years and 8 months ago

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I thought the same except I thought we had a pretty high water table here in Brooklyn Heights. I suppose it was an unusual amount of water. Still, the sewage smell… we did call a plumber to investigate (not sure how to identify a cracked waste line) but I’d guess we are not a high priority job right now.

slimc | 3 years and 8 months ago

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What’s the best solution for a cracked waste line?

colonialrevival | 3 years and 8 months ago

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Water table and potentially a cracked waste line as well. How does the plumbing from the upper levels make its way down?

slimc | 3 years and 8 months ago

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I think this is a water table issue – water rises up from the ground. I have the same problem today. I have fans circulating air and I am moving the dehumidifier (which runs throughout the summer) around to different areas. I think lysol might be a good option.