Stop the water in your basement for good. Free basement waterproofing inspection in Syracuse and a written price from a local crew, usually with a call back the same day.
✓All that snow has to go somewhereSyracuse averages about 127.8 inches of snow a year, the most on a ranking of the snowiest U.S. cities. The airport also averaged about 38 inches of total rain and melted snow a year from 1979 to 2008. When the snow melts in spring, the ground next to the house is soaked for weeks.worldatlas.com
✓More rain in winterThe New York State Climate Impacts Assessment says that since 1949, more of the winter precipitation in Syracuse falls as rain instead of snow. Rain on frozen or snow covered ground has nowhere to soak in, so it runs to the low spots, often right against a basement wall.nysclimateimpacts.org
✓Soil that holds waterMuch of the Syracuse area sits on glacial till and old lake bottom. Some lake soils in the region, like the Schoharie series, have subsoils over 35 percent clay. Some till soils, like the Honeoye series described from the Town of Marcellus, have a dense layer 20 to 38 inches down. Both slow water down, so it collects against your wall.soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov
✓A combined sewerSyracuse is one of several New York cities with a combined sewer, which carries storm water and sewage in the same pipes. In heavy rain or fast snowmelt, the system can fill past capacity. For a homeowner, that is one reason a floor drain backup valve and a good sump discharge line matter.nysclimateimpacts.org
✓Onondaga CreekFEMA added 876 properties along Onondaga Creek on the south side to the flood zone in 2016. An Army Corps of Engineers dam upstream, built in the late 1940s, holds back peak flows, but the city still warns that homeowners insurance does not usually cover flooding.waer.org
What it costs
Typical published ranges for Syracuse. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.
Most Syracuse homeowners who call about water describe one of these:
A puddle on the floor after the snow melts or after a hard rain
A wet line where the wall meets the floor
Water coming through a crack in the wall
White, chalky powder on the block or stone
Damp or crumbling mortar in an old stone wall
A musty smell, or mold on stored boxes
Paint that bubbles and peels off the wall
A sump pump that runs all spring, or no sump at all
Rust on the bottom of the furnace or water heater
Any one of these means water is reaching your basement. The inspection finds where it comes in and why.
Why Syracuse basements get wet
Water gets in three main ways here.
Through the walls. When the soil around your house is soaked, water pushes through cracks, mortar joints and the pores in block. Stone walls let it in at every joint.
Where the wall meets the floor. The floor was poured after the walls, so there is a seam all the way around the basement. Water in the soil under the house rises and comes up through that seam. This is the most common leak in Syracuse.
Up through the floor. In wet springs, water under the slab can push up through cracks in the floor or around an old floor drain.
Snow is the big driver. A whole winter of it melts in a few weeks, often while the ground is still frozen a few inches down. Add slow draining till and clay soil, and water sits against the house far longer than it would in sandy ground.
How waterproofing works
The contractor we connect you with will match the fix to your house. These are the common ones:
Inside drain and sump pump. The crew cuts a narrow strip of the floor along the walls, lays a perforated pipe in stone, and covers it back with concrete. Water that comes through the wall or up the seam runs into the pipe and down to a sump pit, and a pump sends it outside. This is the most common fix in Syracuse.
Sump pump and battery backup. A new pump, a sealed lid and a backup that runs when the power goes out. Many homes already have a pit but need a better pump.
Crack sealing. A leaking crack in a poured wall is injected from inside to stop the water.
Outside waterproofing. The crew digs down along the wall, cleans it, coats it with a waterproof membrane, adds drain pipe at the footing and backfills. It costs more and tears up the yard, but it keeps water off the wall.
Gutters and grading. Downspouts carried well away from the house, and soil sloped so water runs away from the wall. Cheap, and often part of the fix.
Wall vapor barrier. A plastic liner on the wall that sends any seepage down into the drain. It keeps the basement drier and cleaner looking.
Stone and block basements
Old basements in Syracuse were not built to be dry. About 43 percent of homes in the city were built in 1939 or earlier, and many of them have stone or early block walls.
For stone, an inside drain plus repointing the worst joints is the usual answer. For block, the hollow cores can fill with water, so the crew may drill small weep holes at the bottom row to let it drain into the new pipe. If a wall also bows, it needs wall anchors or straps along with the waterproofing.
What it costs
One local cost guide puts basement waterproofing in Syracuse at $2,000 to $8,100, depending on the type of work. Inside drains run about $51 to $61 per linear foot in Syracuse on that guide, and outside work about $86 to $122 per linear foot. National guides put a full inside system at $2,000 to $6,000 and outside waterproofing at $7,000 to $15,000.
These are typical ranges from published guides, not quotes. A big basement, a stone wall or a deep dig costs more. Your written estimate shows how many feet of drain, what pump, and what is included, before any work starts. See the Syracuse cost guide.
Before the crew arrives
A few things help the inspection go faster:
Note when the water shows up: snowmelt, heavy rain, or all the time
Take a photo of the wet spot or the puddle when it happens
Clear a path along the walls if you can
Know if your home is near Onondaga Creek or another creek
Frequently asked questions
Why does my basement only leak in the spring?
In late winter and spring, months of snow melt into ground that is often still frozen near the top. The water cannot soak down, so it moves sideways into your walls and up through the floor. That is why so many Syracuse leaks show up in March and April.
Is inside or outside waterproofing better?
Both work. An inside drain and sump pump costs less, causes less mess in the yard and handles most Syracuse leaks. Digging outside costs more but stops water before it reaches the wall. The inspector will tell you which one fits your house and why.
Will waterproofing paint fix my wet basement?
Not by itself. Paint can help a wall that is only a little damp. It does not stop water pushing through cracks or coming in where the wall meets the floor. If you see puddles, you need a drain or crack repair.
Can an old stone basement be made dry?
Most can be made dry enough to use. Stone walls let water through the mortar joints, so sealing the face of the wall rarely lasts. Most stone basements are kept dry with an inside drain at the base of the wall and a sump pump, plus new mortar in the worst joints.
Do I need a battery backup for my sump pump?
It is a smart add in Syracuse. Snow, ice and wind storms can knock out power right when the ground is soaked. A backup pump keeps running when the power is out. Ask for it as a line item on your estimate.
Does homeowners insurance cover a flooded basement?
Many standard policies leave out water that backs up through floor drains or a failed sump pump unless you add a water backup endorsement. Flooding from a creek or high water needs flood insurance. Seepage through walls is usually not covered. Ask your agent.
How long does basement waterproofing take?
A typical inside drain and sump pump job takes one to three days. Outside digging takes longer and depends on the weather and the ground. Your estimate lists the schedule.
My home is near Onondaga Creek. Does that change anything?
It can. Homes in the flood zone may need a floodplain permit for some work, and flood insurance is a separate policy. The City of Syracuse Engineering Department can tell you if your home is in the mapped flood zone.
Get your free waterproofing inspection
A wet basement in Syracuse does not dry out on its own, and the next snowmelt is never far off. Call (315) 623-3956 or send the short form, and a local crew will call you back, usually the same day. The inspection is free and the price comes in writing.