About calling
Who answers when I call?
An independent local waterproofing company, once you have said what you need and where you are. How it works has the detail.
Is Racine Basement Waterproofing Help a contractor?
No. It is a referral service with no crews, trucks or tools. All work, pricing and warranties come from the company you hire.
I rent. Can I call?
The decision and the contract belong to the owner of the house, so the owner should make the call.
Do you cover commercial buildings?
No. The companies reached through this number work on houses.
About the work
Drain or coating: which does a wet basement need?
It depends where the water enters. Water at the floor seam needs a drain. A wall that is wet along its height may need work outside. Start with what you are seeing.
Will waterproofing fix a wall that is bowing?
No. Waterproofing manages water. A wall that is moving needs a structural assessment, which is a separate kind of company.
How disruptive is an interior drain?
A strip of floor is broken out along the walls, so expect noise and dust for the duration. The interior drain page lists what has to be moved.
Do I need a battery backup on the sump pump?
If the basement would flood without the pump, yes. The storms that fill the basin are the same ones that knock out the power.
Is a crawl space liner the same as encapsulation?
Not quite. A liner on the soil alone is a vapor barrier. Encapsulation also seals the walls and vents and adds a dehumidifier. See crawl space encapsulation.
Local points
Can my sump pump empty into the floor drain?
No. That puts groundwater in the sanitary sewer, which Racine and Mount Pleasant do not allow. The rules are here.
Does the City of Racine help pay for a sump pump?
For one- and two-family homes whose foundation drain is connected to the sanitary sewer, yes, up to a limit, through its Sump Pump Program.
Who do I call about a sewer backup?
Your sewer utility, not a waterproofing company. Keep the number of your city or village utility somewhere you can find it in a storm.
How do I find out whether I am in a floodplain?
Search your address on FEMA's flood maps. The flood map guide has the links.
Talk it through with a local company
Call and describe what the water is doing. You will speak with an independent local waterproofing company about coming out to look at your house.
For homeowners: basements, crawl spaces, sump pumps and drainage.
Call (262) 555-0112Racine Basement Waterproofing Help is a referral service, not a contractor. Calls may be recorded. Referral disclosure.