Water in your basement can come from a sewer backup, groundwater, drainage problem or failed sump pump. Before dealing with the water, take precautions around electricity and possible contamination. Our team assesses the source, identifies what is allowing water in, and recommends the right repair to help prevent it from happening again.
We have been waterproofing basements and cellars in Brooklyn since 2004.
429 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Need Help With the Flooding?
Groundwater typically seeps quietly through porous foundation cracks or floor seams. In contrast, a sewer backup involves municipal wastewater violently reversing direction, erupting quickly into your lowest fixtures, structural catch basins, or floor drains.
If raw sewage is present, call 311 to report a sewer backup immediately. The DEP will inspect the location within 6 hours of receiving the complaint to verify if the backup stems from a blockage in the public main.
Always provide clear contact information and record your 311 Tracking Number (begins with 311-) and your DEP Customer Service Request Number (CSR#). You must have these numbers to track your active city claim.
The City repairs the municipal main sewer line. However, if the inspection reveals a blockage in your private sewer service line, you receive a Notice to Repair. It means you are financially responsible for the plumbing fix.
Brooklyn’s aging combined sewer network handles waste and stormwater in one pipe. Extreme rainfall overtaxes city mains in neighborhoods like Bushwick and Bed-Stuy, forcing pressurized wastewater backward into private sewer service lines to erupt out of basement floor drains.
Low-lying Brooklyn neighborhoods like Gowanus, Red Hook, and Greenpoint sit on top of exceptionally high water tables. Saturated soil builds immense hydrostatic pressure during intense downpours. It physically forces groundwater directly through porous concrete basement walls and foundation floor seams.
Relying on a single electric pump leaves your basement completely defenseless when intense coastal storms trigger localized power outages across Brooklyn. Without electricity or an independent battery backup system, the pump dies right as storm runoff inflows peak, causing rapid flooding.
Attached Brooklyn row houses lack natural yard drainage. Roof runoff pipes down through downspout discharges too close to foundations, while sub-grade front areaway drains easily clog with Brooklyn street litter. It funnels surface stormwater directly under low cellar entrance doors.
Properties near Jamaica Bay, Sheepshead Bay, or the East River sit inside low-lying FEMA flood zones. High tides mixed with severe storm surges push saltwater backward through local catch basins. It can cause immediate, widespread coastal flooding throughout vulnerable neighborhood basements.
Call Our 24/7 Brooklyn Emergency Response Line
Tap to Call (347) 337-6482. Our team will assess the water source and determine the right repair.
If sewage backs up during rain, a backwater valve is the primary mitigation tool identified by the DEP. It blocks municipal sewer surges from pushing back inside your home.
When hydrostatic pressure forces groundwater through concrete floors and seams, you must relieve that pressure. An interior French drain captures this water before it pools, directing it to a pump.
Relying on a single pump leaves you vulnerable during blackouts. Installing a primary pump paired with a battery-powered backup ensures continuous, automated protection when severe storms knock out power.
If water entry is restricted to visible foundation cracks, targeted repair is required. Injecting these voids with hydrophobic polyurethane expanding foam creates a permanent, flexible barrier against groundwater streams.
When surface water overflows areaway drains, exterior water management must be corrected. This involves clearing catch basins, extending roof downspouts, or correcting the soil grade slope away from foundation walls.
Want to know which of these is affecting your basement? Call (347) 337-6482.
Whether your insurance covers basement water depends on what caused it and what your policy covers. Standard homeowners and renters insurance generally does not cover flood damage, but your policy may cover certain types of water damage or offer optional sewer-backup coverage. Check with your insurer or broker before assuming a loss is covered.
Separate flood insurance, including NFIP coverage, is designed for flood damage but has specific limitations for basements and personal belongings. If your basement has flooded, safely photograph the water, visible damage and where you believe it entered before cleanup or repairs. Keep those records for your insurer.
We can help identify where the water came from and what physical conditions need to be addressed.
It depends on what is causing the flooding. If sewage is backing up into the basement, report it to 311 so the NYC DEP can investigate. If water is entering through a foundation crack, drainage problem, sump system or another building condition, call us at (347) 337-6482 to assess the cause.
Sewage coming through a floor drain, toilet or other low point can indicate a sewer backup, but the source is not always obvious. If you suspect sewage, report it to 311 so DEP can investigate whether the problem is connected to the City's sewer system or your property's private sewer service line.
Not necessarily. If DEP determines that the backup originated in the City's sewer system, the City begins its repair process. If the problem is with the property's private sewer service line, the property owner is responsible for its maintenance and repair.
We don't promise a response time we can't guarantee. Call (347) 337-6482 and tell us what happened, where you saw the water and whether the flooding is still occurring. We'll explain the next step based on what you're seeing.
Stay out of standing water if electricity or electrical equipment may be involved. Do not operate electrical equipment in or near the water, and keep children and pets away from affected areas. If sewage is present, avoid direct contact. If it is safe to do so, photograph the affected areas and note when the flooding started and where you first saw water.
Whether the water came through a foundation crack, drainage problem, sump system or another entry point, the repair starts with identifying the source. Our team of experts is here to help you.
Brooklyn Basement Waterproofing
Call (347) 337-6482
429 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Water-management solutions for Brooklyn properties. Built around your building, moisture source, and drainage conditions. Serving brownstones, row houses, and homes since 2004.
