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Basement flooding and sewer backup in Harrisburg

Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.

20 pros in Harrisburg

Harrisburg sits on the Susquehanna, and its basements have a long record with water. During Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, the city recorded 12.53 inches of rain in 24 hours and 15 inches over four days. In September 2011, Tropical Storm Lee put the river over City Island, and Shipoke was completely submerged. Many waterfront homes in Harrisburg and New Cumberland flooded to the second story. That history matters when you plan sump pumps, drains, backwater valves or waterproofing, because river flooding and heavy rain are different problems and a contractor should say which one the work addresses. Before you hire, check that the contractor is registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, which applies to contractors above a yearly work threshold. Ask for the registration number and put the scope in writing. After any water gets in, the EPA gives guidelines for responding within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mould growth, so ask how quickly a firm can respond.

Source: National Weather Service, State College (NOAA) (source, opens in a new tab)

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Before you hire

  1. Ask which permits the job needs and who will get them; your municipal building department can tell you before work starts.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Harrisburg

Does a basement waterproofing contractor in Pennsylvania need to be registered?

Under Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, contractors who do a set yearly amount of home improvements must register with the Attorney General's Office. The registration is renewed every two years. Ask for the registration number before you sign, and confirm it matches the name on the contract. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a written quote for sump pump or drain work include?

A written quote should state the contractor's name and registration number, the exact work and equipment, where water will be discharged, the start and finish dates, the payment schedule, and any warranty. Ask for each quote in the same format so you can compare like with like.

Why does Harrisburg's flood history matter when I hire for basement work?

Harrisburg has seen two kinds of flooding: the extreme rainfall of Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and the Susquehanna overflow of Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. A sump pump or drain handles groundwater and rain. Ask the contractor what the system can and cannot handle in a river flood. National Weather Service, State College (NOAA) (source, opens in a new tab)

How fast should I act after water gets into my basement?

The US EPA's water-damage table gives guidelines for responding to clean water damage within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mould growth. If your basement takes on water, begin drying promptly and ask any contractor how soon they can inspect and what they will do first. US Environmental Protection Agency (source, opens in a new tab)

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