Can it wait?
| What you see | Urgency |
|---|---|
| Old crack, not changing | Book an inspection when it suits you |
| New crack, doors starting to stick | Book within days, mark and photograph the crack |
| Basement wall leaning more week to week | Call today |
| Wall blocks shifting, crack opening fast | Call now and keep clear of the wall |
| Water pouring in, pump stopped | Call now |
The first hour
- Safety. Keep people and pets away from a moving wall. Do not walk through basement water near outlets, the furnace or the water heater.
- Power. If water is rising and you can reach the breaker panel without stepping in water, switch off the basement circuits.
- Water. If the sump pump has stopped, check that it is plugged in and the breaker is on. A stuck float can sometimes be freed by hand.
- Record. Photos and video of everything, with the time. Insurers want them.
- Call. Describe what you see and we tell you whether it needs a crew now or can wait for morning.
After the storm passes
Once the basement is dry and the wall is shored, the real questions start: why did the water get in, why did the wall move, and what keeps it from happening again. That is the inspection, and it is still free after an emergency visit.
St. Louis weather to plan for
Spring and early summer bring the heaviest thunderstorms, and the July 2022 flash flooding showed how fast basements across the region can fill. Long dry spells in late summer do the opposite: the clay shrinks and cracks open. Both seasons are when calls spike.
Quick answers
Should I try to push a bowing wall back?
No. Leave it alone, keep clear and call. Pushing on a failing wall can make it collapse.
Can I run a wet vac in a flooded basement?
Only if the area is dry around the outlet and the power is safe. Otherwise wait for the water to be pumped out.
Is mold a risk after flooding?
Yes, if things stay wet for more than a day or two. Get water out and air moving as fast as you safely can.
