15 Worst Cities for Flooded Basements
You love your basement. Whether it’s additional storage space, finished living space, or a workbench, basements can add a great deal to your home.
Unfortunately, they can be prone to leaks and even flooding.
Here’s our look into where basements are flooding, along with trends in basement construction, including regional differences. We’ll also dive into the causes.
Top U.S. Cities with Flooded Basements
Using data from Google Trends on search inquiries for “flooded basement,” we were able to zero in on the locations of those searches. This data was then sorted by region, metropolitan area, and city. Here’s what we found and their rankings.
- Toledo, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, MI
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland/Akron, OH
- Chicago, IL
- South Bend/Elkhart, IN
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Philadelphia, PA
- St. Louis, MO
- Buffalo, NY
- Sioux Falls, SD
- Kansas City, MO
Digging just a little deeper, we found a significant increase in inquiries in May. Looking at the NOAA Climate Report for May 2020, we find that Chicago experienced its wettest May on record. This extended across the Midwest and included catastrophic dam failures and flash floods in Michigan.
NOAA also reported the third-wettest May in North Carolina and the fourth-wettest in South Carolina. Plus, Miami reported its wettest May since records have been kept. But few basements flooded there. That’s because there are few if any, basements due to soil properties and water level.
Digging Deeper: Foundation Construction
Let’s take a look at foundation construction, where basements are popular, and why.
Trends in Foundation Construction U.S. Census Bureau new home construction statistics show that in 1971, basements and slab foundations were relatively even, with 36% of new homes having basements and 38% having slabs. Crawl spaces made up the rest, with 26%.
Fast-forward to 2019, and slab foundations made up 63% of new homes, with basements at 23% and crawl spaces at 14%. This chart provides perspective on the overall year-by-year changes.
That same data shows in 2019, basements made up 64% of foundation construction in the Northeast, 62% in the Midwest, 24% in the West, and a mere 7% in the South. That would account for why basements aren’t flooding in Miami!
Basement vs. Slab and Crawl Space Foundations
A basement has several advantages. The big one is additional space, which can be converted into a finished living space, a workshop, a laundry area, or storage.
So what’s not to like?
In most cases, the climate, soil type, flooding risks, and the foundations used by other homes in your area determine whether you can use a basement foundation.
Climate
In the Northeast and Midwest, the climate includes freezing weather. This means the foundation needs to be below the depth of the frost line and set at a relatively deep level. This also means that there’s not much of a cost difference between a slab with deep footers and a basement. Plus, you have all the added advantages of a basement.
Soil Properties and Water Level
In the South, without concerns from frost, the soil takes on more importance. With sandy soils, homebuilders prefer slab foundations. In addition, sandy soils will allow easy water to flow around and into basements, causing flooding. In fact, in many cases, the water table may be too high to allow basement construction.
In other areas of the South, heavy clay is a restricting element. Its expansion and contraction during rainy or drought conditions could literally break up the basement without considerable mitigating efforts. If it did hold together, water could readily flow into spaces between the clay soil and the basement foundation, finding ways to cause leaks and flooding.
Weather Conditions
Frequent storms and extreme weather can also be a factor. See our blog post “16 Worst U.S. Cities for Flooding” for further insight. In many cases, those cities use slab or crawl space foundations since basements can be problematic.
Of course, if you live in one of those cities (or any other area, for that matter), there are many ways to prepare for and mitigate against basement flooding.
Causes of Basement Flooding
Apart from the severe weather noted above, there are several other causes. Here’s a short list:
- Foundation cracks: Some small cracks can occur from natural settling, but foundation cracks are critical infrastructure damage. They need to be addressed to stop leaks before they lead to flooding.
- Improper Sealing: Ideally, the basement floor and walls should be sealed on the outside and inside. This prevents water entry after heavy rain. Sealing around pipes as they enter the basement is also challenging.
- Plumbing Leaks: Aging, ground shifts, and tree roots can wreak havoc with your plumbing. This causes backups and leaks around the foundation. Over time, it can show up in your basement and/or cause further shifts in the foundation.
- Sump Pump Problems: Sump pumps collect water and pump it out of low-lying areas. As they age or if the power fails, the water can back up and start flooding your basement. It’s absolutely essential to have a battery backup for these systems.
- Grade of Slope Around the Home: Ideally, the landscape around your home allows for the rainwater to move away from the foundation. If not, it can collect around your foundation and start seeping into the basement.
- Perimeter Drainage System: This type of system is designed to keep water levels below your basement through collection and drainage. If the system gets blocked, water rises and shows up in your basement.
Protect Your Home With Groundworks
Whether you live in one of the worst cities for basement flooding or not, a wet basement is a serious issue that can lead to significant damage and costly repairs.
When researching, be sure to consider the number of homes flooded rather than just the cities, as the lists can vary significantly. Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Schedule a free inspection with the country’s leading foundation repair experts—Groundworks.
Our team can assess your situation and determine if basement waterproofing is necessary to protect your home and give you peace of mind.
Basement Flooding FAQs
While a dehumidifier can help reduce moisture after flooding, it’s not a solution for flooding issues. A proper waterproofing system is necessary for severe water problems.
Basement floods can be caused by many sources. Internal sources include burst plumbing pipes, leaky appliances, and faulty sump pumps. Heavy rain, poor foundation drainage, and foundation damage are also potential causes. To find the root of the problem, contact your local Groundworks company for a free inspection and basement waterproofing estimate.
Many insurance policies do not cover flood damage, such as preventable instances part of regular home maintenance. However, there are certain circumstances where your damage may be covered. It’s best to check with your insurance agent to go over exactly what your policy covers.
