Water in a basement is usually caused by one of two sources: storm water or wastewater. Storm water can enter a basement through windows or by seeping through walls and floors. This is normally due to inadequate drainage or grading around a home; or malfunctioning sump pumps, gutters or foundation drains.

Wastewater can enter a basement when the sanitary sewer backs up through floor drains. This can also happen for a variety of reasons. Various reasons include sewer blockages from grease, debris, or tree roots; collapses or other deteriorated conditions in a home sewer line; and in older sections of town, infiltration by storm water.

Below are some tips to help reduce the chances of a backup occurring in your home:

1. Do not pour cooking grease or oil down your drains.
2. Do not flush paper products such as paper towels, moist towelettes, hand wipes, disposable towels, diapers, napkins, or feminine products. The only truly flushable paper product is toilet paper. Other products might say they are flushable but can still cause sewage blockage.
3. Do not use the garbage disposal to shred solid materials into finer pieces because this doesn’t liquefy them and it could get clogged in the sewage system. Some examples of kitchen solids are watermelon rinds, potato peels, orange peels, corn kernels, eggshells, and chicken bones.
4. All sink, tub, and floor drains should be fitted with baskets or strainers to catch any type of debris. Inspect them often and clear them regularly.
5. In the bathroom, keep sinks with pop-up stoppers clog-free by routinely cleaning out the hair and other material that collects in them.

In the event you have a sewer backup issue, please contact a plumber immediately.