Basement Flooding in Real-Time

What would you do if you discovered your basement wall leaking rainwater during a thunderstorm? One man decided to record the incident on video.

How The Basement Leaked

The unsealed pipe penetration is the most obvious culprit in this video.  Sometime in years past, someone drilled a hole in the brick foundation to run piping for water.  The hole that was drilled was actually larger than the pipe running through it, and the penetration was never sealed. Thus, groundwater flowed freely through the penetration, streamed down the foundation wall, and ran across the basement floor.

It is important to note, however, that other factors also contributed to the flooded basement.

• Clogged gutters prevented rainwater from properly draining to downspouts and away from the foundation.
• Settled backfill sloped toward the home, causing rainwater from the overflowing gutters to pool around the foundation.
• Gaps in mortar provided the path of least resistance, allowing groundwater to seep through the brick foundation wall.
• Lack of waterproofing sealed the deal.  With no way to drain the water and pump it out, this basement was doomed as soon as the storm began.

The basement flooded within minutes after the downpour started.