Basement Waterproofing in Galion, Ohio

Galion spans Crawford, Morrow and Richland counties, and the Olentangy River begins near the city. On July 9, 2013, the Olentangy overflowed in Galion, water got into basements on Church Street, and storm sewers backed up.

About half of homes in Crawford County were built before 1960. Older basements in Galion commonly deal with seepage at the wall-floor joint, damp block walls, and sump pumps that are past their prime.

Galion at a glance

Two different problems: seepage and sewer backup

During the 2013 storm, Galion saw both river overflow and storm sewer backups. They're different problems with different fixes. Seepage through walls and floors is a waterproofing job: drainage, a sump pump and sometimes crack repair. Water coming up through a floor drain is a plumbing job, often solved with a backwater valve.

If you're not sure which you have, tell the contractor exactly where the water appeared. Water at the floor drain points to the sewer. Water along the walls points to groundwater.

• Look at the joint where the wall meets the floor after a heavy rain. Damp lines there usually mean water pressure from outside, not a plumbing leak.
• Check block walls for white, chalky deposits (efflorescence). They are left behind by water moving through the masonry.
• Walk the outside of the house during a storm. Downspouts that dump next to the foundation are one of the cheapest problems to fix.
• If you have a sump pump, pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure it starts, empties the pit and shuts off.