Preventing Flooded Basements
In Wayne, Oakland & Macomb County

As Wayne, Oakland & Macomb County’s leader in Flooded Basement Cleanup, we have seen every possible cause of basement flooding!

Tragically, many flooded basements could have been prevented with a little maintenance or pro-active repair.

This article discusses the five easiest ways to prevent a flooded basement.

Click here for PART 1: Causes of a flooded basement.

Preventing a Flooded Basement:

Flooded Basement: Improper Grade

Often a flooded basement occurs because a house was constructed on a site with an improper “grade” (slope of the surrounding land).

If a home is built on sloped terrain, the property can often be “graded” to prevent drainage and rain & snow runoff water from accumulating at low points around your foundation.

In some cases erosion will eventually “level” the grade and may fix your problem over time.

But if you notice water accumulating – and/or slight seeping – due to improper grading (sloping), call us to fix this problem BEFORE your basement floods.

Flooded Basement: Improper Sealing

Another typical cause of basement flooding is poor or improper “sealing” of the basement floors and walls. The good news is that basements can be successfully resealed, using the latest technologies in waterproofing.

If you notice even slight seeping, call us to check your seals and fix this problem BEFORE your basement floods.

Flooded Basement: Improper Drainage

Fixing a drainage system that has been improperly placed is one of the cheapest and easiest steps you can take to prevent a flooded basement. If the downspouts of your house have been placed within 6 feet of your basement walls, they are too close and should be moved or extended to prevent basement flooding.

If the downspouts of your house have been placed within 6 feet of your foundation, call us BEFORE your basement floods. We can redirect the downspouts toward the street or the backyard, away from your basement walls and those of your neighbor – to prevent flooding.

Flooded Basement: Blocked Eaves troughs

A blocked gutter will cause rainwater to redirect toward the shortest available path – which can often be directly down to your foundation.  And if the water accumulates – flooding will occur.

Fortunately the solution is simple. All you have to do is have your eaves troughs professionally cleaned once a year. In some case even clean eaves troughs will still overflow – which simply requires replacing them with larger ones that drain more water.

In some cases, adding screen covers or “gutter guards” is also advisable to prevent the accumulation of debris between cleanings.

If you haven’t had your eaves troughs inspected & cleaned, NOW is the time to do this . . . BEFORE they cause a basement flood.

Flooded Basement: Sump Pump Failure

If your house is equipped with a sump pump that has been there for more than a few years, you should regularly have it inspected. We can remove, clean, test, repair (or replace if necessary) the sump pump BEFORE a devastating basement flood occurs.

If your sump pump has been working sight-unseen in your basement “just doing its job”, chances are you take it for granted and haven’t had it checked. But eventually a sump pump – especially one that has been working hard for many years – will give out and a sudden basement flood can ensue.

Can You Sue the City for Flood Cleanup & Sewer Backups?
Macomb, Oakland & Wayne County

As Macomb, Oakland & Wayne County’s leader in sewer backup and flood cleanup, we have seen many cases of sewage backup that were due to faulty municipal sewer systems. And – no matter who is “at fault” – a sewage backup is one of the most discouraging and disgusting things that can happen to a homeowner.

We are not lawyers – we are sewer backup cleanup specialists! But we can report that under some limited circumstances, successful cases have been brought against cities for sewer backup damage and cleanup costs.

Troy Residents Sue City for Flood Cleanup & Sewage Backup

In a recent case, several Troy residents sued the city because of a flooding incident in 2013 that caused hundreds of gallons of raw sewage to damage their basements.

Attorneys for the Troy homeowners alleged that grease was discarded into the Troy sewer system by the nearby Somerset Collection mall, causing raw sewage to backup into more than a dozen homes in Troy. The affected residents incurred thousands of dollars in sewage and flood cleanup and restoration costs.

The residents have already settled a lawsuit against Somerset Collection (for an undisclosed amount of money) on that issue months ago. Now a lawsuit against the City of Troy for negligence is pending. Whether the homeowners will win still remains to be seen. (Check back here for updates).

Michigan Law & Suing for Flood Cleanup

The “general rule” under Michigan law, however, is that homeowners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their main sewer line (the pipeline that runs between their house and the city’s sewer main). Typically under Michigan municipal laws (including most cities in Wayne, Oakland & Macomb County) this part of the sewer line is “owned” by the property owner, and so the property owner is responsible for repairs as well as liable for any sewage backup.

But – where unusual, egregious or “negligent” acts on the part of a City or Municipality have occurred – some cases have ruled in favor of the Plaintiff homeowners who have sued the City. Usually, these successful cases are part of a “class action” – where several affected homeowners “ban together” and bring one single lawsuit naming all of them as Plaintiffs (rather than bringing individual lawsuits).

If you have been affected by sewage backups that you believe are caused by your cities negligence, it is important to (1.) document everything; (2.) talk to an experienced attorney; and, (3.) find other residents who also experienced sewage backup from the same incident, if possible.

We are Macomb, Oakland & Wayne County’s Flood Cleanup Experts!

Can I Sue My Neighbor for Flood Damage?
In Oakland, Wayne & Macomb County

As Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County’s leader in flood cleanup, we have seen many cases of flood cleanup that were due to a neighbor’s activity. So we are frequently asked if the homeowner can “sue” the neighbor for the cost of the flood cleanup.

We are not lawyers – we are flood and water damage cleanup specialists! But we can report that under some limited circumstances, successful cases have been brought against neighbors for flooding damage and cleanup costs.

Suing for Flood Cleanup: Natural Causes

As a general rule, a neighbor in Michigan is not responsible for flooding caused by the “natural conditions” of land. So if houses are positioned in such a way that a water naturally runs off from the next-door neighbor’s property, it is generally not legally the neighbor’s fault.

Similarly, neighbors are not responsible for other “acts of nature”. So if an unusually strong downpour ran off from a neighbor’s yard and caused flooding, the neighbor is typically not considered responsible for that, either.

Suing for Flood Cleanup: Intentional Acts

However, in some limited cases, if a neighbor has altered the land which results in flooding, a homeowner may be able to sue them for flood cleanup and damage costs. For example, if a neighbor changes the elevation of their land, or puts in a large amount of sloping concrete that drains toward the house next door – then they may be considered responsible for the flooding.

Similarly, in some cases where a neighbor has intentionally taken steps to divert water to their neighbor’s property, they may be held responsible for flood water damage and cleanup. For example, if a neighbor installs gutters and downspouts that send rainwater away from their home and too close to their neighbor’s home, they might be considered legally responsible for flood damage and cleanup.

Suing for Flood Cleanup: Negligence

And, if a neighbor acts unreasonably or carelessly with water on his own property, a flooded neighbor may also be able to successfully sue them for flood damage and cleanup costs. Examples of this would be garden hoses or sprinklers left running too long, or even water pipes that rupture due to age, freezing or clogs. Generally homeowners are responsible for their pipes – and for any damage a burst pipe may cause to the neighbors, even if the pipe just wore out or froze due to cold weather.

If you have been affected by flooding or water damage that you believe was caused by your neighbor’s actions or negligence, it is important to (1.) document everything; and (2.) talk to an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

We are Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County’s Flood Cleanup Experts!

Why It’s Hard to Get Rid of Smoke Smell
By Oakland, Macomb & Wayne County Smoke Removal Experts

As Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County’s leader in smoke removal, we are often asked: why is the smell of smoke so persistent, while many other strong smells are not? In other words – why is it so difficult to get rid of smoke smell after any type of fire?

Our Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County’s smoke removal experts have studied the “science” of smoke removal – and the answers to this question may surprise you!

The Science of Smoke Smell Removal

Most smells or odors come from a substance that has turned into a “gas”. For example, when food is cooked, the heat of cooking makes the liquid in the food evaporate (turn to gas) and these “gas” molecules are what tickle our olfactory receptors (our nose) and cause a pleasant “smell” or “aroma”.

But when something is burned (set on fire) a different process takes place! Combustion (fire) causes actually causes the release of solid particles (like magnesium oxide smoke) and/or liquid particles (like tobacco smoke) – not the release of “gases” like cooking.

And as you would guess, when these tiny “solid” and “liquid” particles get into the little spaces between threads (in fabric or other materials) they “stick” or “stay” much more persistently than the fleeting “gas” particles caused by cooking or evaporation.

That is why it is almost always necessary to hire a professional smoke removal company to get the smell of smoke out of your home or possessions after a fire.

While “gas” particles will evaporate and move on (and out) of your house, the microscopic solid and liquid particles of smoke are simple not going to budge, until they are extracted with state-of-the-art chemicals and other technologies by a trained smoke removal professional.

We are Wayne, Macomb and Oakland County’s Smoke Removal Experts!

If you have experienced the tragedy of a fire, don’t let the lingering effects of smoke smell continue to ruin your home and your possessions. We are Macomb, Oakland and Wayne County’s leader in smoke removal, and we have the state-of-the-art technology to remove the smell of smoke from your Oakland, Macomb or Wayne County home – and make it smell like new again!

State of the Art Smoke Removal
By Wayne, Macomb & Oakland County Experts

Removing smoke smell from your home and belongings after a fire is a very different process than removing other types of odors.

In a “nutshell” this is because most everyday smells are “gases” that occur when something evaporates naturally (like perfume) or from heat (like cooking). But smoke is – surprisingly – not a gas but rather made up of tiny solid and liquid particles.

So smoke needs to be treated and removed differently than other smells – using very specialized equipment.

We are Macomb, Wayne and Oakland County’s leader in smoke removal, and we have the state-of-the-art technology to remove the smell of smoke from your Wayne, Macomb or Oakland County home – and make it smell like new again!

Smoke Removal: Ozone Generators

Ozone generators can permanently remove smoke odor resulting from fire damage.

Ozone is very effective in smoke odor removal because it destroys smoke odors at their source – very rapidly. As the Ozone (O3) is circulated throughout the room it oxidizes (binds with and removes) the smoke residue (tar, resins & particles) that have adhered to surfaces. The Ozone even gets down into cracks and crevices and in the tiny, microscopic places in your fabric and other smoke laden materials. The ozone also “follows” the same path that the smoke took through the house or facility, so it removes the smoke smell from every possible nook and cranny.

Smoke Removal: Hydroxyl Generators

Hydroxyl Generators take longer to remove smoke than ozone generators. But the benefit of a hydroxyl smoke removal generator is that they are safe to use in occupied areas for smoke removal.

Unfortunately, many insurance companies do not have to cover a homeowner’s temporary lodging during smoke removal. So if people and pets cannot be removed from the smoke removal area, hydroxyl is safe to use.

Eco-friendly Smoke Removal Products

Many homeowners are initially fooled by the claims of some odor removal products. Scent-generating “deodorizers” will only mask smells. But if it doesn’t have a cleaning agent in it, you’re not going to permanently get rid of the smoke smell.

Smoke particles (tars, resins, etc.) need to be removed from fabrics, walls & personal possessions in order to eliminate the residual smoke smell. However, the correct cleaning product must be used for each type of material. Otherwise the cleaning product can damage or even destroy the product you are trying to clean.

We Are Wayne, Macomb & Oakland County Smoke Removal Experts

As Macomb, Wayne and Oakland County’s leader in smoke removal, we have the state-of-the-art eco-friendly products necessary to remove the smell of smoke from your Macomb, Wayne or Oakland County home – and make it smell like new again! And, our trained smoke-removal professionals also know which products are safe for which materials – so that your home and valuable personal possessions are restored without further damage.