Basement Waterproofing in Cheltenham, PA
24/7 Emergency Line OpenBasement waterproofing in Cheltenham, PA covers the plumbing-side work that keeps groundwater out of a living or storage space: interior drain channels, sump basins, discharge lines and the drains around the house. We are a plumbing company, so we say plainly where our work ends.
A wet basement is one of the most common calls after heavy rain. If water is on the floor right now, our emergency sump pump repair page is the faster route.
Find the water source before choosing the fix
Water gets into basements four main ways: through the floor and wall joint, through cracks in walls, from the sewer or floor drain, and from plumbing leaks inside the house. The fix for each is different, and treating the wrong one wastes money.
| Where the water appears | Likely source | Plumbing work that helps | Work that is not plumbing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Along the wall and floor joint | Groundwater pushing up at the cove | Interior perimeter drain to a sump | Exterior grading or drainage |
| Through the middle of the floor after storms | Water table rise | Sump basin and pump, battery backup | Slab crack repair |
| From the floor drain | Sewer backup or lateral problem | Camera inspection, cleaning, check on backwater protection | City or utility sewer work |
| From pipes or the water heater | Plumbing leak | Leak detection and repair | None |
| On the wall below a window well | Clogged well drain or poor surface drainage | Clear the window well drain | Regrading the yard |
We diagnose first. A basement with a floor drain backup and one with a wet wall need different tools, even if both feel like the same flooding problem.
Why Cheltenham basements deal with this
Tookany Creek is the township's main waterway, and the creek has a long flooding history. A 2015 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report noted that urbanization in Cheltenham increased stormwater runoff and reduced the creek's carrying capacity. WHYY reported in 2022 that Elkins Park residents see the creek rise over the New Second Street bridge and that some basements near the creek flood.
For a homeowner, that history means two things. Properties near the creek see groundwater rise with prolonged rain, and a pump or drain that is barely adequate in a dry year fails in a wet one. In Glenside, Tacony Creek runs through the community, and the same logic applies to low-lying yards nearby.
Our Elkins Park page covers how the creek and the housing stock shape plumbing calls there. Elevation matters too. The township runs from about 63 feet where Tookany Creek leaves for Philadelphia to 411 feet at Sunset and Lindley Roads, so low-lying properties near the creek face more groundwater pressure than the hilltop streets.
Basement keeps taking on water?
Call and tell us where and when it shows up.
Interior drainage: how a drain channel and sump work together
Interior drainage collects water at the footing and sends it to a sump basin, where a pump moves it out through a discharge line. It is the standard plumbing-side answer when the water table pushes through the floor edge.
- We open a narrow channel along the wall and floor edge, then set perforated drain pipe in gravel.
- The pipe pitches to a sump basin that is sealed and sized for the pump.
- The pump pushes water out through a rigid discharge line that meets Cheltenham's Chapter 211 rules.
- The channel is covered with concrete, leaving the basement floor flat and usable.
The system relieves pressure instead of fighting it. Water that reaches the footing finds a pipe instead of a crack.
The sump pump is the heart of the system
Every interior drainage system ends at a sump pump, which means the pump decides how well the system works. A worn or undersized pump turns a good drain into a pit full of water.
Cheltenham Township Code Chapter 211 requires sump pump discharge to run through a rigid pipe of at least 1 inch, through the outside foundation wall, and away from the foundation. It prohibits any sump discharge from entering the sanitary sewer. We cover those rules on the sump pump page, and every waterproofing job follows them.
What we do not do
Honest limits of plumbing-side waterproofing
We do not repair structural foundation cracks, underpin walls or reshape exterior grading. If your basement needs those, a structural contractor or an engineer is the right call.
We also do not diagnose mold or health effects. If water has stayed for days, treat the space as damp and ask a qualified professional about testing and cleanup.
Do your own checks first
- Clear window wells of leaves and test the drain at the bottom
- Make sure downspouts discharge well away from the foundation
- Check that the yard slopes away from the house
- Look for a running toilet or a dripping water heater that mimics a wet basement
- Note where the water appears and photograph it for your records
Township code treats connections that send downspouts or drains into the lateral as prohibited inflow, and owners must correct them within 60 days of notice. Disconnecting a downspout from a sewer line is often free to start and helps both your basement and the sewer.
What changes the price of waterproofing
- Length of drainThe footage of perimeter drain drives labor and material.
- Floor typeDigging a channel in thick slab takes more effort than in thin concrete.
- Sump basin and pumpThe basin, pump type and battery backup shape the total.
- Discharge routingThe distance to a legal discharge point and the path through the yard or foundation wall.
- FinishesFinished walls or flooring may require protection or later restoration.
Clear price before work starts. Insurance rarely pays for waterproofing as a planned improvement, and groundwater damage is often excluded, so read your policy. Want your real number? Call (215) 714-6692.
Frequently asked questions
Part of it is. Interior drains, sump basins, pumps and discharge lines are plumbing. Structural repair and exterior grading are not.
Groundwater rises with prolonged rain and finds the path of least resistance, usually the floor and wall joint. A drain channel and a sump pump give that water a path out.
No. Chapter 211 prohibits sump discharge from entering the sanitary sewer, apart from a limited seasonal waiver from November 30 to March 31 that carries a shut-off valve and a monthly fee.
No. We handle the plumbing side. For structural cracks, call a structural contractor or an engineer.
It runs when the power fails or the main pump cannot keep up, for a limited time depending on the battery. Test it each year.
Yes. We serve the whole township and the nearby towns. Start with our Glenside page if your home is near Tacony Creek.
Many policies exclude groundwater and sump failure. Read yours and ask your insurer before the next storm.
Dry out the basement for good
Call (215) 714-6692 and get a clear price before work starts.