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Message |
    
Becs
Citizen
Username: Becs
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 9:59 pm: | 
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Just moved into a new house in maplewood. We are on a corner, with our home downslope from the street. I have noticed that the street drain is clogged and has not been draining properly.
After yesterdays rain, there was a lot of water in the basement. I thought that the problem may have been exacerbated by the poor drainage on the street. Then I realized that there is a drain on the floor of the basement. I actually think that the backup at the street is causing the water to come through the floor drain, flooding the basement (I wasn't at home during the storm, but I could find no evidence that the water was seeping through the walls). Kind of the opposite of what drains are for, but anyway...
I called the Town today and they said that they will send thier guy over to clean out the street drains at the corner.
My questions are:
should I expect to have to call the town back repeatedly to get this done? Would it make sense to be writing letters and cc-ing mayors and whatnot, or should I have more faith in government?
Is this flooding experience familiar to anyone?
Any suggestions on permanent fixes for basements that flood? What might it cost?
Thanks
Becs
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Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4393
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 10:26 pm: |
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Had that problem.
Have the basement drains removed and plugged. They are not legal today and allow sewer gasses to leak back into your house. And if the sewer lines back up you see what you get. This time storm water, next time the flush of your toliet.
Beyond the smell, if some dope dumps paint thinner or gas down his drain, you have the chance of that gas comming up in your basement. Have a hot water heater,,,Boom.
Then if you find you have water in the basement, consider a sump pump system which drains to the street and not to the sewer (street legal, sewer not legal)
Later,
George |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6591
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 7:13 am: |
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George - isn't detecting things like this part of Home Inspection 101? Our inspector pointed out a couple of things that were not to code when we bought our house and they became negotiation points. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10344
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 8:08 am: |
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Becs, I think the public works guys do this pretty quickly. Check back with them in a couple of days.
George, aren't these hooked up to the storm sewers, not the sanitary sewers? |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4394
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 3:31 pm: |
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"George - isn't detecting things like this part of Home Inspection 101?"
As in the case of my basement drains, they were punched into the sewer drains under the basement floors. When done in 1920-30, it was legal. When you buy a house this type of thing is considered 'Grandfathered'. While not to current code, you do not have to remove or change them.
Until you feel it is not safe or you do a major re-model in the area, and then you will be required to change them.
Oh, and then only if the inspector happens to notice the drains and looks. |
Jgberkeley
Citizen
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 4395
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 3:37 pm: |
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BobK,
"George, aren't these hooked up to the storm sewers, not the sanitary sewers?"
Depends. In most cases no. Most that I see are hooked into the sanitary sewers and are Grandfatherd. See above.
In order for them to be to the storm system they have to be piped to a sump system then sump pumped out to the street drain, often thru the curb or into a ditch. Never seen one directly connected under the street to the storm system.
Also note, most sump pumps that I see are piped into the sanitary sewers. Again, old code.
When I see them I try to get the owner to change the system to the current code.
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Ms. Cooper
Citizen
Username: Ms_cooper
Post Number: 44
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 4:00 pm: |
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Becs,
Who did you call to clean the street drains? We have the same problem. And though I can't say for sure it's the only reason for water in my basement, I suspect it is a major reason for it. I will say that our front street/median/sidewalk get completely drenched and stay saturated for a long time after the rain is gone. This is particularly bad when it is cold and the water turns to ice and also it produces mud, mud, mud! I have often wondered who to call at the Town. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1029
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 5:01 pm: |
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Unfortunately, Ms C, you may not get the same results if you call the town. Becs is from Brooklyn and is VERY tough... |
Becs
Citizen
Username: Becs
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 8:30 pm: |
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Thanks for the advice, thats helpful.
Ms. Cooper, I don't recall the person responsible in town but I think I marked it down somewhere. If I find the name I will repost.
Case, while I can be intimidating, I'm not from Brooklyn.... |
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