Flooded Basement - who to call

[Michelle96]

Hello,
My basement was flooded with sewage from the mainline when it rained heavily. The water is around 10cm deep and I need to get it pumped out. I tried Dyno Rod but their local service does not offer this. I've tried looking online but all I come across is links for tanking a basement to prevent flooding. Any recommendations would be really appreciated.
Many thanks
Michelle

 

[petit_pablo]

The water supplier for your region should be able to assist, especially as its their overflow.

 

[Michelle96]

Thanks for replying. Only problem is my builders who converted the basement removed the non-return valve that should have stopped it happening as they said it was causing blockages in the building so I believe this means its not Thames Water but our fault.
The builders want thousands to put repair this

 

[longdogs]

Yes, ring your water supplier and if they can't get there quickly, hire a large vax and send them the bill.

 

[longdogs]

Sorry, your reply appeared as I was posting. If you can stand going down there, then a vax would probably do the job but speak to the hire company first. Not sure about the legalities of removing bits of drainage though.

 

[Michelle96]

Thanks Squeaky, just popped to local hire shop and going to try this myself.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Depending on how much is there you might be a while with a Vax! Council might be worth a phone call, large quantity would need a vacuum tanker to remove. If council cant help they may be able to recommend a contractor who can provide this service.

Sewer really needs sorting, otherwise you'll have this problem every time it rains. A properly installed non return valve should not block!

 

[HERTS P&D]

Is there a manhole in your basement?

I offer a pumping out service.

Andy

 

[Nige F]

Thanks for replying. Only problem is my builders who converted the basement removed the non-return valve that should have stopped it happening as they said it was causing blockages in the building so I believe this means its not Thames Water but our fault.
The builders want thousands to put repair this

It`ll cause a blockage when the flood water is closing the pipe , kinda obvious . therefore you can`t use the facilities in the house . Sounds like the builders never sussed this and preferred to give you a nice basement conversion . I saw one in a seaside town and it was a gurt big manhole sticking up 3 foot in the room - had to be left and boxed in - or they would have had the same problems as you . BUT if you have access to the sewer outside of the house , it may be possible to construct a new manhole and fit a plastic non return valve . £ of course depends on the work involved

 

[Agile]

Do you have a WC in this basement from which the water entered?

You could always have non ret valves on the WC alone and on any other waste pipes in the basement.

Tony

 

[Onetap]

The builders want thousands to put repair this

I'm sure they do. They were negligent in removing the non-return valve so they should pay for its replacement and the clean up costs.

Do you have cover for this on your house insurance?

 

[Agile]

House insurance should not cover it as reasonable care to prevent claims was not taken.

The builder removed the valve with the agreement of the owner. Bad advice maybe but not negligent!

 

[OwainDIYer]

Hello,
My basement was flooded with sewage from the mainline when it rained heavily. The water is around 10cm deep and I need to get it pumped out. I tried Dyno Rod but their local service does not offer this. I've tried looking online but all I come across is links for tanking a basement to prevent flooding. Any recommendations would be really appreciated.
Many thanks
Michelle

If you still need pumping out then
- especially in rural areas, there are people who pump out septic tanks.
- portable toilet hire first usually have a small pump for emptying their toilets in situ.

Otherwise hire shops may have pumps suitable for dirty water. If you want a pump that will go down to 1mm then you need a 'puddle pump'

 

[Onetap]

House insurance should not cover it as reasonable care to prevent claims was not taken.

The builder removed the valve with the agreement of the owner. Bad advice maybe but not negligent!

I disagree Tony. The builders seem to have recommended that they remove it. The owner wasn't aware of its function, or he/she wouldn't have allowed it to be removed. The builders weren't aware of its function because they were incompetent builders. It's simple, if they didn't know what they were doing with a drainage system, then they shouldn't have been offering their services to work on drainage systems. Res ipsa loquitur, as builders often say.

They will have liability insurance to cover this.

The owner had taken reasonable care, he had employed builders for the drainage works because he/she knew bog all about drainage systems. The house insurance should cover it and the insurance company may have approved contractors who could clear up. They may recover the costs from the builder's insurers.

 

[Agile]

The only insurance likely to pay out is the builders IF he has any and that will probably need a claim against the builders.

I would doubt that would be likely to succeed as the builder suggested the valve was removed and the owner agreed!