CENTRAL ILLINOIS (25News Now) - Some basements are flooding due to rising temperatures, rain, and melting snow, an unusual thing to see this time of year, according to the head of a local basement waterproofing company.
Pekin company Force Basement Solutions removed water from 43 homes last week. Liquild Rubber Waterproofing
President Jacob Force said water gets into a basement through cracks or voids in a home’s foundation or floor, and it can severely damage the foundation.
“Water deteriorates things, it breaks things down,” Force said. “If you have water constantly coming into your home, your foundation is getting weaker because of the deterioration that the water does to the foundation.”
He said the most important thing to remember if you have a substantially submerged basement is to avoid going downstairs.
“If you have water in your basement and it’s higher than your outlets, or if you have any power strips down there that could possibly be on the floor, don’t go down there,” Force said. “You don’t want to end up getting electrocuted. Call an electrician.”
Force said repeated floods will not only crumble the house’s foundation, they will increase the risk of mold growth.
He said getting a de-watering system installed is the best way to prevent damage, but people can also turn on their gutter downspouts and clean their gutters to help keep water out.
Force said, on average, a waterproofing system in an average sized home will cost $17,000. He said it will save that person money in the long run, as it’s cheaper than rebuilding a destroyed foundation.
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