Signs you need a crew now
- More than an inch of standing water - anywhere
- Water rising through the floor drain or wall cracks
- Sump pump dead, tripped, or can't keep up
- A sewage smell - that's contaminated water, don't touch it
What happens when you call
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Tell us what happened. 30 seconds - how deep, and where it's coming from.
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You're connected with a local restoration crew while you're on the line.
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The crew confirms timing and sets your arrival time with you directly.
Why this one can't wait
Basement walls and slab soak up gallons you can't see, and mold gets established in 24-48 damp hours. Every hour underwater moves more of your stuff from "salvageable" to "loss."
And a deeply flooded basement has to be drained slowly - empty it too fast and groundwater pressure can crack the foundation. That judgment call is the crew's job, not yours. More detail in the salvage guide.
Local to Cook County
Chicago basements are deep and usually finished - and much of Cook County drains through combined sewers that back up into them during heavy rain. Freeze-thaw cycles burst pipes in uninsulated exterior walls, ice dams push meltwater under roofs, and a dead sump or ejector pit turns an ordinary storm into a flooded basement in an hour.
In the Chicago area the coverage that surprises homeowners most is sewer backup - it's only covered with a water/sewer backup endorsement, an add-on many policies skip despite the combined sewer system. Check your declarations page before the next heavy rain.
Serving Chicago, Evanston, Cicero, Oak Park, Skokie, Berwyn, and all of Cook County.
Flooded basement questions
Can't I just pump it out myself?
A few inches of clean water with the power off - maybe. Deep water needs a slow, staged drain-down so the foundation isn't damaged, plus extraction from the slab and walls a shop vac can't touch.
Is basement flooding covered by insurance?
A burst pipe is typically covered by a homeowner's policy. Surface flooding is typically covered by flood insurance. Sewer backup is typically covered only with a sewer or water backup endorsement. Groundwater seepage is generally not covered by either, unless it was caused by a covered flood event. Review your policy, including endorsements. See the coverage guide.
What about the furnace and water heater?
Don't relight or power anything that took water - the crew has them inspected. Submerged gas valves and controls are typically replaced, not dried.
Is sewer backup covered in Chicago?
Only with a water/sewer backup endorsement - many Cook County policies skip it despite the combined sewers. Check your declarations page before the next heavy rain.