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Pittsburgh Foundation Repair Co.

Serving Pittsburgh and nearby areas

Water in Basement in Pittsburgh, PA

Water in your basement after rain means water is finding a way in, and a free inspection shows you where it comes from and what it takes to stop it.

Call now: (412) 990-2570 or book your free inspection online

Book a free foundation inspection

Tell us what you are seeing. A local specialist calls you back the same business day.

Local to Pittsburgh

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.

What it costs

Typical published ranges for Pittsburgh. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.

WorkTypical range
Inspection and written estimate Free
Crack injection $400 to $1,300per crack
Interior drain $40 to $120per linear foot
Sump pump, installed $600 to $2,500
Exterior waterproofing $100 to $350per linear foot
Backwater valve, installed $200 to $1,000+
Basement waterproofing, whole job $3,000 to $7,500

See typical foundation repair prices in Pittsburgh

You walk downstairs after a storm and the floor is wet. Maybe it is a thin line along one wall. Maybe it is a pond in the middle of the room. Either way, water found a path in. The good news: most wet basements in Pittsburgh can be fixed once you know where the water comes from.

What you will notice

A wet line where the wall meets the floor

This seam is the most common way in. Water under the floor pushes up through the gap.

Water running down one wall

Often through a crack, a window well or old mortar joints.

Damp spots that grow after rain

The wall turns dark, then dries out a day or two later.

White powder on the walls

Water moves through the wall, dries, and leaves salt behind.

Water rising from the floor drain

In a storm, this is often the sewer, not the ground.

A musty smell or mold

On boxes, wood or drywall near the floor.

A sump pump that never stops,

Or a pit that overflows.

Peeling paint

On block or stone walls.

Why so many Pittsburgh basements get wet

Old houses. About half of the homes in the city were built before 1940. Many have stone, brick or block walls with no drain at the footing and no waterproof coating on the outside. Mortar gets soft with age, and water finds the weak joints.

Hills that send water to your wall. On a sloped lot, rain from the street and the yard above runs straight toward the house. Clay soil holds that water against the wall instead of letting it drain away.

Big rain. Pittsburgh had its wettest year on record in 2018. Local reporting on climate in Allegheny County points to more heavy rain events than in the past. A soaked yard puts a lot of weight and water on a basement wall.

Freeze and thaw. Winter here swings above and below freezing again and again. Water in small cracks freezes, expands and makes the crack a little bigger each time.

Old sewers. Much of Pittsburgh has combined sewers. Storm water and waste share the same pipe, and in a big storm it can back up into basements. In Shaler Township, residents have had to clean up flooded basements after storm after storm.

Is it groundwater, a leak or the sewer?

The fix depends on the source. A few clues help:

  1. Water only after rain, along the walls or floor seam. This is usually groundwater. The fix is drainage and sealing.
  2. Water in one spot under a window or downspout. This is often surface water. Gutters, grading or a window well cover may solve it.
  3. Dirty water or sewage from the floor drain during a storm. This is a sewer backup. A backwater valve is the usual answer. In Pittsburgh, the owner is responsible for the private sewer line from the house to the street.
  4. Water with no rain at all. Check for a plumbing leak, a water heater or a sweating pipe before you blame the foundation.

The inspector will look at all of these, because many Pittsburgh basements have more than one source.

When it is minor and when it is urgent

Usually minor: light dampness on one wall, a small puddle after a very heavy storm, or white powder with no running water. Fix your gutters and watch it.

Call soon:

  • Water comes in after most rains, not just big ones.
  • The wet wall is also cracked, bowed or leaning in.
  • Old stone or block walls are losing mortar or sand.
  • The sump pump runs all the time or has failed.

Urgent: sewage in the basement, water near electrical outlets or the furnace, or a wall that is moving. Turn off power to the area if you can do it safely, keep kids and pets out, and call (412) 990-2570.

How wet basements usually get fixed

Crack injection

A single leaking crack in poured concrete can be filled with foam or epoxy.

Interior drain and sump pump

A channel is cut along the edge of the floor. Water that gets in runs to a sump pit and is pumped out. This is the most common fix for old Pittsburgh basements.

Exterior waterproofing

The soil is dug away, the wall is sealed and a drain is set at the footing. It costs more, and steep lots and tight row house spacing can make digging hard.

Gutters, downspouts and grading

Moving roof water away from the wall is cheap and sometimes all you need.

Backwater valve

It lets waste flow out but stops sewer water from flowing back in.

What it costs

These are typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. Your written estimate will be based on your house.

What to do before the inspection

  1. Take photos during or right after the next rain. Show where the water starts.
  2. Note the weather. Light rain, heavy rain or snow melt?
  3. Check your gutters and downspouts. Point them at least a few feet away from the wall.
  4. Move boxes and rugs off the floor so the walls can be seen.
  5. Do not paint over the problem before the visit. Stains show where water comes in.

Then call (412) 990-2570 or send the short form to book a free basement inspection with a local crew.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my basement only get wet when it rains hard?

Heavy rain soaks the soil next to the house. The wet soil pushes water through cracks, mortar joints and the seam where the wall meets the floor. In Pittsburgh, steep yards and clay soil send a lot of that water toward the house.

Is water coming up the floor drain a foundation problem?

Usually not. Water or sewage coming up the drain in a storm is most often a sewer backup. Much of the city has combined sewers that fill up in big storms. A backwater valve is the usual fix, not wall work.

Can I just paint the walls with waterproof paint?

Paint can help with light dampness on a sound wall. It will not hold back water under pressure, and it often peels off old block and stone walls. If water runs in, you need to deal with the water outside the wall or under the floor.

Who fixes the sewer line to my house?

In Pittsburgh, the water authority has said the property owner is responsible for the private sewer line, called a lateral, that runs from the house to the main in the street.

Do I need a sump pump?

If water collects under your floor or around the walls, a sump pump gives it a place to go. Most interior drain systems feed into one. The inspector will tell you if your house needs one.

Does water in the basement hurt the foundation?

It can. Water in the soil makes it heavier and adds pressure on the wall. Over time that can crack block, wash out old mortar and help a wall start to bow.

Other services

Common foundation repair problems in Pittsburgh

Areas we serve around Pittsburgh

(412) 990-2570 Free inspection