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April 15, 2007
Flooded Cellar
We're in Park Slope and water is pouring in to our cellar from the storm. Does anyone have a company they recommend to pump out a flooded cellar? A neighbor said last time they used a plumber who showed up with a small sump pump - took all day and charged them $700. I know there are companies that have industrial pumps that specialize in this - I just can't find any! Thanks
Comments
Don't use Servicemaster! They showed up hours late, charged us $1,000 for what was supposed to be 3 days rental of drying equipment and then they picked it up 1 1/2 days later, refusing to budge when I said no, it's not been 3 days. The guy rudely said, fine we'll leave the equipment but we'll charge you more for it. So I could do nothing but let them take it. They're awful.
Also Floodsquad when I called them, the guy was SO rude and refused to give me any quote at all for the costs, saying "well lots of people will be calling me today so I don't care if you hire me or not." Click. I hung up.
Servpro is the bigger and more established company I learned since, who does this. But all these companies normally bill the insurance companies directly so they're absurdly expensive. Remember, these are the types of companies who ripped off taxpayers cleaning up New Orleans.
Anyway, good luck! Sorry to hear you're having this flooding today.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 15, 2007 5:18 PM
Good luck. I guess you know why and where the water is coming from -- this water is unusual but July is the other time for heavy rain. Gutters might be full and diverting water away from drains or your drains might need flushing, but you might consider having a sump pump installed for times like this. I bought one and had it installed for a few hundred dollars.
Posted by: donatella at April 15, 2007 5:32 PM
Go to Lowes and buy a service pump that connects to a garden hose. Run the hose out the cellar door to the street. Keep this in your basement for emergencies. About $75 total. My neighbor is using mine right now...he has about 16'' of water due to the fact that his neighbor had a disconnected downspout in the rear.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 15, 2007 10:16 PM
Home Depot was totally sold out of utility pumps, as were a lot of plumbing supply places today.
Another option in a pinch is to get a wet dry vac with an ejector pump. I've been using mine to keep my basement from flooding. It's not as easy as a utility pump, but it'll save you in a crisis.
They had them at home depot when I was there earlier today.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 16, 2007 1:12 AM
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