Basement Waterproofing in Norwalk, Ohio

Norwalk is the Huron County seat, and Norwalk Creek runs through the area. More than 28% of homes in Huron County were built in 1939 or earlier, and about 44% before 1960.

Huron County has a history of serious flooding. In July 1969, more than 14 inches of rain fell in parts of north-central Ohio, flooding the Huron and Vermilion river basins. In August 2007, the National Weather Service reported that hundreds of basements flooded in Huron County.

Norwalk at a glance

What causes most wet basements in Norwalk

Heavy summer storms and long, wet springs are both hard on basements here. Short, intense storms overwhelm gutters and storm sewers, and water pools against the foundation. Long wet spells raise the groundwater, which pushes up through the floor and in at the wall-floor joint.

If water only shows up during downpours, start outside with gutters, downspouts and grading. If it appears days after the rain stops, the problem is groundwater, and interior drainage with a sump pump is the usual fix.

• 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.

Also serving nearby Huron County villages

We also take requests from Monroeville, Greenwich, Wakeman, North Fairfield and Plymouth.