Many people assume plumbers can manage any and all issues related to water in or around a home. But removing standing water from basements requires different skills.
Standing water in your basement or foundation can be a major issue for homeowners. Not only is it a nuisance, but it can also lead to health problems such as mold growth, respiratory issues, and more.
Many people assume that plumbers are the quick and simple solution to this problem. In reality, standing water removal should be left to professionals who specialize in excavation and dewatering services.
In this blog post, we’ll try to provide some info related to standing water in your basement or foundation and why it’s important to seek the help of a professional — just not a plumber.
Standing Water in Basement or Foundation
First, it’s important to understand that standing water removal is not the same as plumbing services. Plumbers are typically responsible for piping systems that bring clean water into your home, circulate it throughout the house, and carry waste away.
Removing standing water, on the other hand, requires specialized knowledge and equipment that plumbers most likely do not possess. This is because excavation and dewatering services involve more invasive procedures than plumbing, such as digging, suctioning, and pumping the water out of the affected area.
Removing standing water from your basement or foundation is essential for numerous reasons.
As mentioned above, it can reduce the risk of or prevent mold growth. Mold thrives in damp, dark environments — like those found in flooded basements where there is water damage. Mold can have serious health consequences, particularly for those with respiratory issues.
Additionally, standing water can cause structural damage to your home’s foundation over time. This can lead to further plumbing problems, as well as potentially costly repairs. In those cases, you will indeed need a plumber to correct the collateral damage caused by the standing water in your basement or foundation.
What You Can Do to Remove Standing Water from Basements
Basements can flood and water levels can rise after periods of heavy rain. Warm spells combined with rain can impact snowmelt, causing huge amounts of water to infiltrate lower areas of one’s home.
If you notice standing water in your basement or foundation, what should you do? The answer is simple: Seek the help of a (non-plumbing) professional.
Excavation and dewatering experts have the necessary knowledge, training, and equipment to remove standing water without causing damage to your home.
They will likely use a combination of techniques, such as suctioning and pumping the many gallons of water as effectively as possible. They may utilize a wet-dry vacuum, sump pump (submersible pump or pedestal pump), or even something as low-tech as a garden hose, to remove water from your basement or foundation.
It’s also important to note that standing water removal is not a one-time fix. In some cases, standing water can be caused by ongoing issues, such as poor drainage, over-watering of plants, or faulty irrigation systems.
A good excavation and dewatering professional will not only remove the standing water but also work to identify and address the underlying cause of the issue. Furthermore, they’ll alert you to the need for mold and/or mildew remediation and will check your basement walls for cracks or foundational damage.
Meticulous Plumbing
Meticulous Plumbing wants to help protect you, your family, and your home. We want to point you in the right direction for water-related services even when those services are beyond the range of what we can provide.
Since standing water in your basement or foundation is a serious issue that should not be ignored, we felt that it was important that visitors to our website understand that this problem is not something that can be fixed by a plumber.
Instead, you should seek the help of a professional who specializes in excavation and dewatering services.
Please remember that standing water removal is not a one-and-done fix; ongoing monitoring and management may be required to prevent the issue from returning.
