The Costs of Repairing Wet Basements

Factors Affecting Repair

• The major factors affecting the total cost of repairing a wet basement are based on the depth and the type of water. Category 1 refers to clean water from a pipe such as from a hot water tank or toilet tank burst, or a water supply line rupture. Category 2 refers to gray water, such as water from a dishwasher or washing machine with minor chemical, biological or physical contaminants. Category 3 refers to black water, such as sewage back-up or flood water, which is toxic and may cause immediate health concerns.

Basic Costs

• At the time of publication, the basic costs to pump water out of and thoroughly dry a basement that's lightly wet with Category 1 water ranges from about $500 to as much as $1,500. The cost can increase to at least $2,000 to over $10,000 depending on the size of your basement. The price increase is also based on whether you need to repair or replace interiors, like walls or flooring, or items that were damaged by the water.

Equipment Costs

• Industrial-strength equipment, like utility pumps and dehumidifiers, are used by professional restoration specialists to repair a wet basement. If you decide to repair your wet basement yourself, you need to buy portable utility pumps that, at the time of publication, each cost about $70 to up to $250. Pumping water out of the basement takes longer using a smaller diameter hose, so you also need a large-diameter discharge hose, which costs at least $50 or more. Residential dehumidifiers can costs as much as $300, but larger dehumidifiers used by professional restorers cost as much as $1,200 at the time of publication.

Additional Costs

• At the time of publication, cleaning a heating system in a basement that was flooded can cost between $50 to over $150. This estimate is based on local rates and whether or not the furnace was damaged. Installing a sump pump in your basement, which is used to remove water to prevent future flooding, costs about $100 to $300 or as much as $2,000 to $6,000 to have one installed by a professional.