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Peoria Foundation

Serving Peoria and nearby areas

Basement Waterproofing in Peoria, IL

Basement waterproofing in Peoria with a free inspection and a written price, so you know why the water gets in and what it takes to keep it out.

Call now: (309) 245-0953 or book your free inspection online

Book a free foundation inspection

Tell us what you are seeing. A local specialist calls you back the same business day.

Local to Peoria

We connect property owners in Peoria and nearby areas, including West Bluff, North Side, North Valley, South Side, Grandview Drive and East Peoria, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.

  • Soil that holds water

    Ipava is one of the two most common soils in Peoria County by USDA acreage. USDA calls it somewhat poorly drained. Its water table can rise to 1 to 2 feet below the surface between January and May. That puts water right against the basement wall every spring.

  • Wet springs

    Peoria averages about 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow a year, per the National Weather Service. May is the wettest month at about 4.7 inches, then April at about 4 inches. Snow melt adds to it, since Peoria averages about 26 inches of snow.

  • The April 2013 storm

    On April 17 and 18, 2013, Peoria set daily rain records of 2.47 and 1.37 inches. The Illinois River then rose to its all-time Peoria record of 29.35 feet on April 23.

  • Combined sewers in older areas

    The City of Peoria says its combined sewers carry both sewage and storm water in the oldest parts of town. After heavy rain they can fill up. The city notes that without overflow outlets, sewage would back up into basements and streets.

What it costs

Typical published ranges for Peoria. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.

WorkTypical range
Waterproofing inspection and written estimate Free
Basement waterproofing in Peoria $1,900 to $7,700
Basement waterproofing, most U.S. jobs $3,000 to $10,000
Interior drain along the basement wall $40 to $120per linear foot
Exterior foundation waterproofing in Peoria $82 to $116per linear foot
Sump pump installed $600 to $2,500
Crack injection $250 to $1,000per crack
Interior waterproof sealer or paint $1 to $8per square foot

See typical foundation repair prices in Peoria

Water in the basement? Here is what a crew fixes

You do not need to know what is causing it. Just tell the crew what you see. Here is what Peoria homeowners usually call about.

Water at the base of the wall

It seeps in where the wall meets the floor after a hard rain.

A leaking crack

Water runs down a crack in a poured or block wall.

Damp walls

The walls feel wet, or paint is peeling and flaking.

White crust on the wall

That chalky powder is salt left behind when water dries.

A musty smell

The basement smells damp even when you see no water.

Water from the floor drain

Water comes up the drain during big storms.

A sump pump that cannot keep up

It runs all the time or fails in a storm.

Some of these are a soil water problem. Some are a sewer problem. The free inspection tells you which one you have, so you do not pay for the wrong fix.

Why Peoria basements get wet

Most basement water in Peoria comes from the ground around the house. Rain and snow melt soak into the soil. Many local soils drain slowly, so the water sits against the wall. When enough water builds up, it finds the weak spots. It comes in through cracks, through old mortar joints and through the seam where the wall meets the floor.

Spring is the hardest season here. The ground thaws, the snow melts and the heaviest rain of the year falls in April and May. In high river years, low ground near the river can also see a higher water table.

Age plays a big part too. Many Peoria homes have block, brick or stone basement walls built many decades ago. Old mortar wears down, and many of these homes were built with no drain around the footing.

Sewer backup is a different problem

In the oldest parts of Peoria, one pipe under the street carries both sewage and storm water. In a big storm, that pipe can fill. When it does, water can push back up through a basement floor drain.

A wall drain will not fix a sewer backup. The usual fixes are a backflow valve on the sewer line or an overhead sewer, which pumps basement drains up and out. The City of Peoria shares the cost of both for homes on a city-owned sewer main. Homes on a Greater Peoria Sanitary District main can ask the district about its program. A plumber usually does this work, so ask the crew if they can do it or if you need both.

How a local crew keeps water out

The fix should match where the water comes from. The contractor we connect you with will explain the options and put the plan in writing.

Fix the outside first

Cheap fixes come first. Downspouts should carry water several feet away from the house. Soil should slope away from the wall, not toward it. Window wells need covers and drains. Sometimes this alone stops a leak.

Seal the cracks

A single leaking crack in a poured wall can often be injected and sealed. A block wall with leaking joints may need repointing. See foundation crack repair for more.

Interior drain and sump pump

This is a common full fix in Peoria. The crew cuts a strip of floor along the inside of the wall. They lay a drain pipe in gravel next to the footing. The drain carries water to a sump pit, and a pump sends it outside. Many crews add a plastic sheet on the wall that guides water down into the drain.

Exterior waterproofing

The crew digs down along the outside of the wall. They clean the wall, coat it and add a drain at the bottom. This costs more and tears up the yard. It is often chosen when a wall also needs to be braced or rebuilt.

Backup power and alarms

A pump that stops in a storm can flood a basement that was dry for years. Ask about a battery backup pump and a high water alarm.

Brace the wall if it moved

Water pressure can push a wall in. If a wall is bowing, the crew may add wall anchors or straps along with the drain.

What it costs

Price depends on how many feet of wall need a drain, whether you need a pump, and how hard the space is to work in. The ranges on this page come from published guides, including Fixr, HomeGuide and HomeBlue. They are typical ranges, not a quote for your home. Your written estimate lists every part of the job. See the Peoria cost guide for more.

What a good waterproofing inspection covers

Where the water comes in

The crew traces stains and wet spots to the source.

The walls

They check for cracks, bowing and old mortar.

The floor drain

They ask if water ever comes up the drain in storms.

The sump pump

They test it, check the pit and look at where it drains.

The yard

They check gutters, downspouts, window wells and the slope of the soil.

A written plan

You get the fix, the price and the warranty on paper.

Frequently asked questions

How much does basement waterproofing cost in Peoria?

One cost guide puts Peoria basement waterproofing at about $1,900 to $7,700. Interior drains run about $40 to $120 per linear foot in national guides. Your exact price comes in writing after the free inspection.

Is water in my basement after a storm from the ground or the sewer?

Clear water seeping at the base of a wall or through a crack usually comes from the soil. Water that comes up a floor drain, especially if it smells, can be a sewer backup. The fixes are different, so tell the inspector what you saw.

Does the City of Peoria help pay for sewer backup protection?

The city's sewer page says it pays 75 percent, up to $3,500, of an overhead sewer and sump pump conversion. It also pays 75 percent, up to $1,200, of a backflow valve. You must be on a city-owned sewer main. Homes on a Greater Peoria Sanitary District main should ask the district about its own program.

Do I need a sump pump?

Many Peoria basements do. If water reaches the floor or the soil stays wet near the house, a drain and sump pump give that water a place to go. If you already have one, the crew checks that it works and is sized right.

Will sealing the walls from the inside stop a leak?

Paint-on sealers can help with light damp spots. They do not stop water that is pushing through a crack or the joint at the floor. For that, you usually need the crack sealed or a drain added.

Does homeowners insurance cover a wet basement?

Standard policies usually do not cover flood or slow seepage. Sewer backup is often covered only if you added a backup endorsement. Read your policy and ask your agent before a claim.

Can waterproofing help with radon?

It can be part of it. The Peoria City/County Health Department says radon can enter through cracks, floor drains, sump pits and crawl spaces. Sealed sump lids and sealed cracks help. A radon test tells you if you need a separate fix.

How long does a drain and sump pump job take?

Many interior drain jobs take one to three days. The crew breaks out a strip of floor along the wall, lays the drain, sets the pump and pours new concrete.

Get a dry basement before the next storm

Spring rain and snow melt will find the same weak spots again. Call (309) 245-0953 or send the short form. A local crew will call you back, usually the same day. The inspection is free, the price comes in writing, and the choice is yours.

Other services

Areas we serve around Peoria

(309) 245-0953 Free inspection