Story Published:
Mar 19, 2008 at 4:42 PM CST
Story Updated:
Mar 19, 2008 at 6:53 PM CST
This was the second wettest winter on record and that has certain local businesses flooded with calls a few months early.
The four crews from Basement De-Watering Systems are busy repairing concrete foundations.
Doryan Konhorst said, "It was very busy this year. Starting at the end of December it's been the busiest winter we've ever had."
The multiple times of melting snow followed by heavy rain are leaving homeowners like Kim Wileman with water woes.
"Especially when you got to go down there for laundry. You got stuff stored down there and everything is getting wet. Yeah, it's a mess," said Wileman.
Wileman's frustration is coming from saturated soils filling up like swimming pools.
"What happens is there is pressure with the water and it starts pushing in because there's a seam where the wall and floor meet."
Crews are drilling holes into the foundation to relieve the pressure and send the water into sump pumps.
And don't think it's just homeowners at the bottom of a hill who need to worry.
"I wish I had a dime for every time I've driven up a hill to get to a wet basement. It depends on the water table."
The key is to get water going away from your house at least four to five feet. This is great because the gutter and downspout go at least 10 feet from the foundation.
But this year it's so wet, there's more water than can be handled.
It's a $700 repair for the Wilemans that hopefully will protect a bigger investment in their basement.
"The other side of the basement we spent over $12,000 remodeling it."
Local basement repair companies say they usually don't get busy until March and April unlike December this winter.