We connect property owners in Pittsburgh and nearby areas, including Mount Washington, Polish Hill, Spring Hill, Lincoln Place, Bon Air and Lawrenceville, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.
Water in the basement? Here is what we hear
Most calls start the same way. It rained hard, and now there is water in the basement. Here is how Pittsburgh homeowners describe it:
"Water comes in where the wall meets the floor."
"The back wall gets wet every spring."
"There is a crack that drips when it rains."
"The carpet in the basement smells musty."
"White powder keeps showing up on the block."
"Water came up through the floor drain in the storm."
"My sump pump runs all the time, or it failed."
"The window wells fill up with water."
The fix depends on where the water comes from. That is why the free inspection comes first.
Why Pittsburgh basements get wet
Hillside water. Many Pittsburgh houses are built into a hill. Rain that falls on the slope above runs down and soaks the soil against the uphill wall. That wall is often the one that leaks first.
Old walls with no drain. About half of the homes in the city were built before 1940. Many have block, brick or stone basements with no footing drain and no waterproof coating. Over time, mortar wears and water finds the gaps.
Lots of rain. Pittsburgh set its rainfall record in 2018, at 57.83 inches. Most weather stations in Pennsylvania now see more heavy rain events than they did in the 1980s. Heavy rain soaks the ground faster than it can drain.
Combined sewers. About 75 percent of the city has combined sewers, where rain water and waste share one pipe. As little as a tenth of an inch of rain can overwhelm old sewer lines. When the pipe fills up, water can come up through your floor drain. That is a sewer backup, not a wall leak, and it needs a different fix.
River and creek flooding. Low areas near the rivers and creeks flood in big storms. In Shaler, residents along Little Pine Creek cleaned up from major flooding for the fourth time in 15 years after Hurricane Ida in 2021.
Water that flows to the house. Water runs downhill from streets and pools in low spots. A yard that slopes toward the house, or a downspout that dumps at the wall, sends water right to the foundation.
Waterproofing options
Gutters, downspouts and grading
This is the cheapest place to start. Clean gutters, downspout extensions that carry water at least several feet away, and soil that slopes away from the house can cut a lot of water. Many Pittsburgh area towns do not allow downspouts to drain into the sanitary sewer.
Interior drain and sump pump
The crew cuts a strip of floor along the inside of the wall, lays a perforated pipe in gravel, and runs it to a sump pit. A pump sends the water outside. Water that gets through the wall goes into the drain instead of across the floor. This is the most common fix for older Pittsburgh basements.
Crack sealing
Leaky cracks in poured concrete walls can be injected with foam or epoxy from inside. See foundation crack repair.
Exterior waterproofing
The crew digs down to the footing outside, cleans the wall, adds a waterproof coating and a drain, and fills it back in. It keeps water out of the wall itself. It costs more and is harder on steep or tight lots.
Sewer backup protection
A backwater valve on the main sewer line lets waste flow out but closes when water tries to flow back in. A floor drain plug or standpipe is a simpler step. If you have had sewage in the basement, ask about these.
Wall bracing
If a wet wall is also pushing in, waterproofing alone is not enough. See bowing wall repair.
Selling your house?
Many Allegheny County towns require a sewer dye test before a sale. Bethel Park, for example, requires both a dye test and a camera inspection of the sewer line before a deed can transfer, and any problem must be fixed first. If your downspouts or sump pump tie into the sanitary sewer, you may need to change them before closing. Plan ahead so it does not hold up the sale.
What basement waterproofing costs in Pittsburgh
Here are typical ranges from published cost guides. They are not quotes.
Job
Typical range
Basement waterproofing, whole job in Pittsburgh
About $3,000 to $7,500
Interior drain, per linear foot
About $40 to $120
Sump pump, installed
About $600 to $2,500
Exterior waterproofing, per linear foot
About $100 to $350
Crack injection, per crack
About $400 to $1,300
Backwater valve, installed
About $200 to $1,000 and up
Price depends on how many feet of wall need a drain, how much concrete has to be cut, how deep the footing is, and how easy the basement is to reach. See the full Pittsburgh cost guide.
You get the price in writing before any work starts. No hidden fees.
Questions to ask before you hire
Where is the water coming from? The crew should show you, not guess.
Is this a wall leak or a sewer backup? Different problems, different fixes.
Where will the sump pump drain? It should go to a legal spot, not the sanitary sewer.
Is there a battery backup? Storms that bring water also knock out power.
What does the warranty cover? Get it in writing.
Is the contractor registered? Pennsylvania home improvement contractors must show their state registration number on estimates and contracts.
Where we help
We connect homeowners with local waterproofing crews across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, including Lawrenceville, Millvale, Hays, Homewood, Shaler, Bethel Park, Dormont and Penn Hills. See all service areas.
Get your free basement inspection
The next big storm is on its way. Call (412) 990-2570 or send the short form, and a local crew will call you back to find where the water gets in.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my basement leak only in heavy rain?
Heavy rain soaks the soil fast and raises the water against your wall. In Pittsburgh, it can also fill the combined sewer so water comes up through the floor drain. The inspection should tell you which one it is, because the fixes are different.
Is an inside drain and sump pump better than digging outside?
For most Pittsburgh homes, an inside drain and sump pump costs less and works well. Digging outside costs more per foot, and on a steep lot or a tight city lot it can be hard to reach the wall. Outside work makes sense when you want to keep water out of the wall itself.
Can I just paint the walls with waterproof paint?
Paint can help with light dampness. It will not stop water under pressure, and it often peels off old block and stone. Treat it as a short-term step, not a fix.
What is the white powder on my basement walls?
It is called efflorescence. It is salt left behind when water moves through the wall and dries. It means water is getting into the wall, even if you never see a puddle.
Will waterproofing stop sewage from backing up?
Not by itself. A backwater valve or a standpipe plug on the floor drain is what stops sewer backup. Many Pittsburgh homes need both waterproofing and backup protection.
Do I need a permit for a sump pump?
Rules depend on your town. Many Pittsburgh area towns do not allow sump pumps or downspouts to drain into the sanitary sewer. The contractor should know where the pump can discharge.
How long does basement waterproofing take?
An inside drain and sump pump in a typical basement often takes one to three days. Outside digging takes longer.