Thank you storm...

[firehawk1120]

http://home.comcast.net/~firehawk222/0.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~firehawk222/1.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~firehawk222/2.JPG

[NJSPEEDER]

not good. i hope you didn't lose anything in the water.
we have been fighting it in the basement since about 3 yesterday afternoon. dunno how many thousnads of gallons we have dumped.

[qwikz28]

oh no... i'm sorry dude

[bad64chevelle]

damn i hope everyone stays safe, and their basements dry, this is pretty s***** out. Almost just wrecked the truck because of a puddle, large branch under water, and an a****** in the other lane...

[firehawk1120]

well the basement got water too, but luckily the furnace is OK and the hot water heater appears to be ok for now. I have pump down there that I didn't have yesterday.

We've never had water before, but as you can see since it backed up in the yard the basement floor gave way soon after. It's not pretty down there, but no damage yet thank god.

[The Fixer]

Holy crap, I'm hoping for the best for all of us! Our house never gets water either, and I've had to siphon out quite a few gallons from under the subfloor in the basement. Grrrrr.......

Good luck everyone!

[Tru2Chevy]

Our main and auxiliary sump pumps have been going almost non stop......but the basement is dry.

- Justin

[V]

i got no problems here. Did have to go to a neighbors to set up his sump pump though. A few roads nearby are flooded

[The Fixer]

Our main and auxiliary sump pumps have been going almost non stop

Speaking of, anyone ever install a sump pump on their own? Any tips? I think I want to install one.

[WildBillyT]

Duke Island Park is flooded almost the whole way to Old York Rd. over in Raritan...

[firehawk1120]

here are a few more of the basement. I have a pool pump down there now to get this crap out.

http://home.comcast.net/~firehawk222/3.JPG
the first time I noticed water last night around 7 pm
http://home.comcast.net/~firehawk222/4.JPG
Where the water is currently notice the black pipe along the wall is now covered.
http://home.comcast.net/~firehawk222/15.JPG

it's a good thing windows are suppose to get wet.
http://home.comcast.net/~firehawk222/13.JPG

[Untamed]

Speaking of, anyone ever install a sump pump on their own? Any tips? I think I want to install one.


Yeah I've put two in. All I can offer is my experience - you may have different needs.

I place a brick under the pumping unit so that its not sitting directly on the bottom of the sump pump well. The reason: 1) keep the pump as level as possible, 2) the pipe needs to extend below the pump

Make sure you get a pump that has enough horsepower, litterally, to pump the water up out of the basement, across the yards of piping that runs along the ceiling of the basement, and then outside to the yards of piping that either runs to the side of your house (poor location), out into the yard (not the best) or out to the street (best location). Gotta move a lot of water, in a short time, for a good distance without backflushing the water back into the pump well. NOTE: There should ALWAYS be a small amount of water in the pump well.

In my house I have two sump pumps in the same pump well - a "normal" pump and a marine-worthy pump (designed to sump sailboats) just in case we get another hurricane. The marine sump -launches- the water up the 3" pipes and blasts it into the front yard. While its not the best location, the marine sump is set up to be the last line of defense if there's just too much water, and acts as a water cannon, moving the most amount of water in the shortest time. I've only ever had it come on once, and its a sight to see 3" pipes blast water 15' out into the front yard.

If you can, set up a battery back up system that recharges 24/7/365 from an AC outlet close to the sump pump. You will need an AC outlet for the sump anyway, but having two outlets allows the battery backup. Why a battery backup? Imagine being without power for a few hours during a hurricane. Yes, I learned the hardway (hurricane Floyd, 1998). The backup kicks on when the power goes off, and at least holds the water at bay for a few hours. With luck, the power comes back on before the battery runs out.

Finally, make sure the exit pipe out by the road is recessed from the curb, but not lying directly on the street, and is placed deep enough that the small amount of water that is always in the pipe, doesn't freeze. You need to do this to avoid a few things: 1) snow and ice building up from the snow plows - make sure you dig that sucker out first chance you get, 2) little critters - make a screen out of chicken wire then put a metal band around it to hold it on. Having mice live, die, plug up the pipe just before a Nor'Easter will render your pump unusable; 3) as water trickles down the pipe in winter, the pipes cosest to the surface will freeze the water. Then more and more water trickles down, freezes.. and so on, until a solid block of ice has it blocked off. One good rain during winter, melts the snow, creates a LOT of water... you get the picture.

Thats it for now. I can discuss more via PMs or email. Good luck!

[Untamed]

Man, Firehawk, that sucks. Sorry to see it. :(

[firehawk1120]

yeah what sucks is that i'm not in a flood zone so I don't have flood insurance, there is no sump pump in the house and never has been. I don't know if I should contact my insurance company or no since there isn't any real damage just some ****** tiles but possibly all the wood and stuff down there needs to be removed due to mold that could accumulate.

I don't know but this really is a pain in the ass. I'm losing a days work too because I have a hose out my side door and it won't shut so I can lock it. damn weather...

[Untamed]

Without flood insurance (which is a Federal program anyway) your insurance company won't do anything. In fact, some insurance companies do very little for basements anyway, claiming they aren't "living spaces" that are covered under the policy.

Best you can do is wait for the water to recede / get pumped out, then keep the water out with the pump till it stops raining, and begin the drying process. I suggest getting some box fans down there once you've dried it the best you can, open the basement windows if you have any, and keep the dry air circulating around down there. Just remember that drywall and floor tiles / carpeting traps moisture that will be there for a very long time unless all of that stuff is ripped out, dried, then replaced with new materials.

If you end up repainting walls / concrete floor, get a primer called "Killz". It's designed to kill and prevent mold and mildew.

[BonzoHansen]

Once the water is out, get dehumidifiers - and pumps in them to take the water out. I think the Home Depot carries the pumps - little giants or something like that.

[12secondv6]

How's the hawk?

Sorry man..... I can relate....

[firehawk1120]

don't know about hawk yet its in garage. haven't went there yet.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

It helps to live on Schooley's Mountain, aka 1100 ft up :). Couldnt really go anywhere but ....

sorry though dude that sucks. hope everything is ok.

[j0n]

Sorry to hear about everyone with flood damage. I almost wrecked my mom's trailblazer on 287 yesterday when it hydroplaned...lemme tell ya sideways on 287 in traffic at 60mph IS NOT FUN

[firehawk1120]

I gotta laugh at this now, the 2 ducks in the picture have decided to stick around for a bit since it's so deep they can physically swim around. So I went out with a sleeve of ritz crackers and started feeding them. LMAO I'm so bored waiting for the damn basement to dry out but it's coming along nicely.

[baddest434]

damn that sucks big time gene. i think its time some people think about moving away the flooding that always hits the wayne/north area ftl

[firehawk1120]

well like I said I'm not in a flood area I'm just at the bottom of a hill and i guess it was just too much water for this area to handle in such a short ass time period.

[foff667]

Holy cow! Man I should be thanking my lucky stars right now.

[1_Hot_SOM_WS6]

Wow...looks like you got a decent amount of water there!! I got lucky this time around....the tide didn't come up past our docks...It really didnt even come up in the street.

[baddest434]

spot any fish in that lake gene? i feel bad for you guys that got flooded out.

[firehawk1120]

nope no fish just 2 cute ducks that like Ritz crackers. LMAO

[Jersey_TA]

nope no fish just 2 cute ducks that like Ritz crackers. LMAO

lol nice.

Anyways, how is the car?

[firehawk1120]

still no idea. I don't have wadders and I'm not about to go trecking through that sludge. I'll wait til it goes down a bit more. The garage seems to be higher then the driveway so I don't think there will be any problems it may be just up to the bottom of the car, but I doubt anything went in the car itself.

water seems to be receeding nicely I put a brick at the edge of the water and now it's about 6" away from the brick.

[Jersey_TA]

still no idea. I don't have wadders and I'm not about to go trecking through that sludge. I'll wait til it goes down a bit more. The garage seems to be higher then the driveway so I don't think there will be any problems it may be just up to the bottom of the car, but I doubt anything went in the car itself.

water seems to be receeding nicely I put a brick at the edge of the water and now it's about 6" away from the brick.

That's good news8-)

[DaSkinnyGuy]

Wow man thats horrible and has the water crested yet. Glad I live in the Hopatcong hills with elevation of 1,015ft. Right now we are getting a wet snow.

[firehawk1120]

well all is well now. Basement is free and clear of deep water. Wet vac sucked up a majority of the rest. Had to reset the water heater but it's working so all major appliance have survived.

Now it's just a matter of moisture clean up.

[DaSkinnyGuy]

Moisture = Mold

[Teds89IROC]

good luck with the clean up!

[firehawk1120]

Only if you don't address it right away. I have windows and doors open and a dehumidifier running down there right now.

When I get home later today I'll see what has to be thrown out and what can be saved. Mostly cardboard boxes and stuff that got mushy but the rest of the stuff on the floor was just old windows, paint cans, drop cloths, etc... non damageable by a little water.

My only fear is the half assed bedroom they built in the basement with paneling I may have to rip that down, but it was coming down eventually anyway this just makes me do it sooner then planned.

Moisture = Mold

[BonzoHansen]

Only if you don't address it right away. I have windows and doors open and a dehumidifier running down there right now..Your are dehumidifying the outdoors. Close the windows & door, just like you would for air conditioning.

Also, I suggest hitting the home depot and picking up a pump to go inside the drip pan - I think it is called a little giant or something - white & blue box. And some long hose to drain it to a sink out outsdie or something. Then it can run the DH 24/7 without you draining it. I use them in my basement and I haven't emptied the things in years.

[97slpss]

my towns pretty much like a island right now..and rt.46 is about be closed both ways

[Knipps]

Your are dehumidifying the outdoors. Close the windows & door, just like you would for air conditioning.

Also, I suggest hitting the home depot and picking up a pump to go inside the drip pan - I think it is called a little giant or something - white & blue box. And some long hose to drain it to a sink out outsdie or something. Then it can run the DH 24/7 without you draining it. I use them in my basement and I haven't emptied the things in years.

i have one in my basement that empties into a hole in the floor via a hose.
i don't know where it goes, nor do i ask questions

[Untamed]

I started out trying to get up north where I work (Florham Park) with Route 206 opened both ways.

Yeah, right! After spending 45 minutes just getting even with the grocery store which should be a 5 minute drive, I turned around and went home.

Working from home, FTW!

[firehawk1120]

Your are dehumidifying the outdoors. Close the windows & door, just like you would for air conditioning.

Also, I suggest hitting the home depot and picking up a pump to go inside the drip pan - I think it is called a little giant or something - white & blue box. And some long hose to drain it to a sink out outsdie or something. Then it can run the DH 24/7 without you draining it. I use them in my basement and I haven't emptied the things in years.

Ok so that didn't make sense. The DH is running without the outside windows open. LOL I have a make shift bedroom / space down there that has 2 doors which are both open, but the basement is now entirely dry minus the back room which is completely empty anyway.

LOL next weekend the sledge hammer comes out and that room comes down. :) fun times.

[firehawk1120]

my towns pretty much like a island right now..and rt.46 is about be closed both ways

I probably asked this before but how old and where in Fairfield. I grew up in Roseland and graduated W.E. in 94.

[NJSPEEDER]

did you get to find out how the car is yet?

[firehawk1120]

no I had to leave early today and I was in my work clothes I'll take a walk out back tonight when I get home and change into crappy jeans and boots.