FYI: Where I'll be...

[mistercrash]

BrianG YGPM

[JERRY2KONE]

Good to hear BG. You will overcome and be back to normal soon. My opinion still stands about living too close to water ways and living above sea level. If I were you I would consider selling and getting out of that situation before the next wave of trouble hits that area. Just like New Orleans it is a cycle that will inevitably come again over and over and over. Why put yourself in that volnerable position? There are plenty of places in the USA that do not have these kinds of issues(Earthquakes, Floods, Huricanes, Tornados). Higher ground is the key.

[BrianG]

mistercrash: Yes, I got your PM, and a BIG thank you!!

Jerry: Believe me, I well know I should get out. When I moved here in '01, it wasn't on the flood plain, but since then, it became part of the flood plain. I knew there was a creak nearby, but figured that being about 1/4-1/2 mile away from a creek would be OK. Color me wrong. I do want to sell now, but who is going to buy a house that is on the flood plain, for what I owe, in this market? If you see any suckers be sure to send them my way!

[mistercrash]

Originally Posted by BrianG

mistercrash: Yes, I got your PM, and a BIG thank you!!

My pleasure and I hope it works.

[rschoi_75]

I haven't been around for a while... but I saw this and thought we can't leave a good man hanging...

Brian,
In for 25 cookies. Not much, but I hope it helps.

[BrianG]

Thanks! It all helps no matter how small!

I have an appointment tomorrow for an estimate on replacing the furnace and hot water tank. I want to try to have them raised around 3-4 feet off the floor if at all possible. That won't help if water starts coming in the basement windows, but it does give me a little extra wiggle-room. That coupled with plugging the storm drain (using an expandable plug) when I suspect issues should help a lot against future damages to those items.

[E-Revonut]

Good luck Brian! My Mom and step dad have had continuous flooding in their basement, mostly through the sewer line. They wound up putting a one way valve in, similar to a check valve, but it had a special name. When there are water issues now there basement is dry but if that valve shuts they can only get about two flushes before the drains stop working. I would rather have to rent a portapotty and keep the basement dry myself so I think thats a small trade off. They had their washer, dryer, furnace, hot water heater, and freezer replaced twice because of flooding. Each time they raised things up higher. Their basement is only about 6'4" and they have their furnace and hot water heater almost 3 feet off the floor so if you have a deeper basement 4' shouldn't be a big deal. There are shorter furnaces that you can get, they're just fatter, I'm sure that you can get similar hot water tanks.

Gave a few cookies to your calculator, I've used it enough, hope it helps

[JERRY2KONE]

Hey BG any chance you can re-locate your furnace and hot water tank some place other then your basement? I moved our natural gas furnace to a closet on the first floor, and I converted the hot water heater to an electric one and it is now in the garage 24" off the floor. Just a thought. Plus I did it all myself. If no garage you can even build a small out building on your house for placement pretty cheaply. It may cost a bit more to relocate things, but compared to having to replace it every two years or so it usually saves money. I was even able to install a digital timer on our hot water heater (for $75 at the Home Depot) so the heater only draws electricity a few hours a day. 2 hours in early morniing and 2 hours in the evening. That way you can limit how much damage is done if water gets into your basement again. Maybe even try talking with your insurance company for assistance, which will save them money down the road. Sometimes they are willing to help $$$$ when it can benefit them on future claims. Good luck with that.