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Serving Champaign County

Crawl spaces and basements that took in water

Pumping, moisture checks and drying for crawl spaces and basements that took in flood, storm or ground water.

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  • Storm runoff and flooding
  • Basement water
  • Burst and frozen pipes

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Crawl Space and Basement

Crawl Space and Basement Moisture: what it covers

Quick answer

Crawl space and basement moisture work removes water that entered below the floor and dries the joists, insulation, sill and slab to measured readings before anything is rebuilt. Basements and crawl spaces that took in flood water need pumping and moisture checks first. Champaign Water Damage Restoration takes calls 24/7.

Crawl Space and Basement Moisture illustration for Champaign, IL, with the river in the background

A crawl space is the space between the ground and the floor of a house, and a basement is the lower level that sits below grade. Both can take in water from the ground, from a storm, from a sump that has failed or from a pipe. Once water is in either, it stays for a long time, because the materials around it are the materials that hold water: soil, concrete, block, timber and insulation.

The work starts by getting the water out and stopping its source. In a crawl space the water can be shallow and spread under the whole house, and the access is limited. In a basement the water can stand against the walls and under the slab, and the pump has to reach every corner. Both need a plan that reads the building from underneath as well as from above.

Drying is the step most often rushed. A basement can look dry while the slab, the sill and the joists above it are still wet, and a crawl space can hold moisture long after its surface has dried. Readings are taken in each material and the work is finished when they reach the dry goal, not when the surface looks clean.

Service area
Champaign & Champaign County
Availability
Phones answered 24/7
Warning signs

Signs you need crawl space and basement moisture

Do not enter a crawl space or a basement with standing water until the power is confirmed off. Do not work in a crawl space without light, and do not stir up stored debris or insulation in a damp space without protection. Keep the sump and its cord out of standing water. Keep children and pets away from the access hatch and from standing water.

  • A musty smell that rises through the floor in the rooms above
  • Water stains or a white crust on the lower foundation wall or the block
  • Damp insulation, sagging or dark in the crawl space
  • A floor above that feels cold, springy or soft near an exterior wall
  • A sump pit that is full, a pump that runs constantly or a float that is stuck
  • Efflorescence on the slab or a wet line where the slab meets the wall
Our process

How our crawl space and basement moisture visit works

  1. Check the power and the access

    The crew confirms the power to the crawl space or basement is safe, and it checks the access. A crawl space with standing water is not entered until the power is confirmed off and the crew has checked for hazards.

  2. Remove the water

    Pumps and extraction equipment take out the standing water. In a crawl space the pumping is done through the access hatch, and in a basement the pump is placed at the lowest point.

  3. Read the foundation and the framing

    Readings are taken in the slab, the block or concrete wall, the sill, the rim joist and the joists above. The readings show whether the moisture is in the materials or only on the surface.

  4. Remove soaked insulation and debris

    Insulation that has taken up water, debris and any stored material that has been wet are removed from the crawl space. The removal is recorded and photographed.

  5. Dry and check before rebuilding

    Dehumidifiers and air movers dry the space until the readings reach the goal. The crew tells you when the moisture checks show the space is ready for repair, and repairs are quoted only after that.

Job stories

Typical jobs for crawl space and basement moisture

Typical job
Illustration: A crawl space floods on the south side of Urbana

A crawl space floods on the south side of Urbana

What homeowners notice
The owner of a small house near the south side of Urbana finds water in the crawl space after a storm and a musty smell in the rooms above. The insulation between the joists hangs wet from the subfloor.
What we do
The crew pumps the standing water through the access hatch, removes the soaked insulation and reads the joists, the sill and the ground under the vapor barrier. Dehumidifiers are set to dry the space, and the readings are logged at set points on each visit.
What to expect
The joists and sill reach the goal over several visits. The owner has the readings and the removal list, and the repair of the insulation and the vapor barrier is quoted separately by the trade that installs them.

Is it safe to go into a crawl space with water in it?

Not without preparation. A crawl space can hold standing water, electrical wiring, poor air and animals, and it has limited room to move. The crew checks the power and the air before entering, and it uses the right equipment and access.

Do not enter a crawl space with standing water until the power to the area is off and the crew has confirmed it. A damp crawl space can also have stored items and debris that are hazardous to lift.

The crew uses protective equipment and a light source, and it works from the access hatch where that is possible. Keep children and pets out of the space.

Why does a basement still feel damp after the water is pumped out?

Concrete, block and the soil around them release moisture slowly, and a wall or slab can stay damp for days after the water is gone. The readings in the materials show whether the moisture is falling, and a visual check does not.

A basement that took in water holds it in the block, the slab and the soil behind the wall. Drying the surface does not dry the material, so the readings are taken inside the wall and the slab.

A humidity reading in the room air is a useful check, but it is not the same as a reading in the material. The crew uses both, and it says which one decides the finish.

Should the insulation in a crawl space be replaced?

Insulation that has taken up water usually cannot be dried reliably and is removed. It is replaced by the trade that installs insulation, after the space and the joists have been dried and read as dry.

Wet insulation holds moisture against the joists and the subfloor, which is why it is removed. The crew records the insulation it removes and the condition of the joists beneath it.

Replacement insulation is put in only after the moisture checks are passed. The crew tells you when the space is ready for that work.

What causes a crawl space to flood or stay wet?

Water can enter through the ground around the foundation, through a failed sump or drain, through a broken supply line or through an opening in the foundation. The crew reads the route to find which applies, and it does not decide the fix.

Grading that slopes toward the foundation, a gutter that discharges at the wall and a sump that is not working are common routes. The crew describes what it sees and tells you which trade should look at each route.

Sealing a foundation, regrading a lot or repairing a sump is work for the trades that do it. The crew's role is to dry the space and show that the readings are at the goal.

How is the price of a crawl space job set?

The price is set by the area of wet space, the depth of the water, the insulation and debris to be removed and the drying needed. No figure is given over the phone, and the scope is explained and approved on site before any equipment runs.

A crawl space with shallow water and a small amount of insulation is a smaller scope than a basement with water against the walls and the slab. The access, the depth and the materials all change the work.

Repairs to the foundation, the sump or the grading are quoted by the trades that do them, after the readings show the structure is dry.

Options

Types and options for crawl space and basement moisture

A crawl space with shallow water

Shallow water in a crawl space can cover the ground and wet the lower joists and insulation. The crew pumps the water, removes the wet insulation and dries the joists and the sill, which are the materials that hold the moisture.

A basement with water against the walls

A basement with water against the walls can have moisture in the block, the slab and the framing at the same time. The drying is planned around each material, and the readings show when the block and the slab have reached the goal.

A basement with a failed sump

A sump that has failed lets the water rise in the pit and across the slab. The sump is repaired or replaced by the trade that services it, and the crew dries the basement once the water is held back.

Champaign County

Why crawl space and basement moisture is different in East Central Illinois

A crawl space or a basement in Champaign and Urbana takes in water by the same routes as anywhere else: the ground, a storm, a sump or a pipe. The crew reads the route in the building and does not assume it from the city.

The upper Embarras River and the detention ponds in southeastern Champaign are the local sources of storm water in the county. A crawl space near the river or a pond can take in water from the ground during a storm, and the crew checks the grade and the outside route as well as the inside.

Basements and crawl spaces near the campus can be shared by more than one unit in a building. The water and the drying are planned across the whole space, and the readings are logged for each unit that uses it.

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Where we work

Crawl Space and Basement Moisture across Champaign County

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Related

Embarras River Flood Damage

Emergency removal and drying for river flood water that reached a home or business in Champaign or Champaign County.

Mold After Water Damage

Inspection, removal and drying checks for mold that started in walls, floors or framing after water damage in Champaign and Urbana.

Hidden Water Leak Detection

Locating concealed water leaks behind walls, under floors and in crawl spaces in Champaign and Urbana.

Frozen and Burst Pipe Damage

Water removal, drying and reading of walls and floors after a frozen or split supply line floods a building.

Guides

Read before you book

FAQ

Crawl Space and Basement Moisture FAQs

Can the crew dry a crawl space without digging it out?

Usually, yes. Water and wet insulation are removed through the access hatch, and dehumidifiers and air movers are placed to dry the joists and the ground. Where a repair needs digging, the trade that does it will say so.

How do I know the crawl space is dry enough to rebuild?

The crew reads the joists, the sill, the ground and the insulation area, and it checks them on each visit. The space is ready for repair only when the readings have reached the goal and held there.

Will mold grow in a damp crawl space?

Mold can grow on wet wood and paper when moisture stays high for days, which is why the drying is kept moving. Any growth found is recorded and handled under its own plan after the space is dry.

Should I run a dehumidifier in the basement on my own?

A dehumidifier can help a dry room hold its humidity, but it does not replace the drying of a wet building. Set up by the crew, the equipment is placed and its water removal is checked.

Is a crawl space flood covered by my insurance?

That depends on the policy and the cause of the water, and the insurer decides. Surface water and ground water are often treated differently from a pipe, so check the wording with your insurer.

Who fixes the sump pump?

The sump pump is repaired or replaced by the trade that services pumps or plumbing. The crew holds the water back and dries the space, and it tells you what it found on the pump.

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