Basement waterproofing in Williamsport and Lycoming County

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and where the water or damp shows up.

2. We connect you

   We pass your call to an independent waterproofing company that covers Lycoming County.

3. They call you back

   The company inspects the basement and quotes you directly, in writing.

Who is this site for?

Homeowners, landlords and buyers in Williamsport, South Williamsport, Montoursville, Loyalsock Township and the rest of Lycoming County who have water, seepage or persistent damp in a basement. Williamsport is the county seat and had 27,754 residents at the 2020 census, Together with South Williamsport, Montoursville, Loyalsock Township and Old Lycoming Township, the urban area along the West Branch Susquehanna held about 55,000 of the county's 114,188 residents. We don't do the work. We hand your call to an independent waterproofing company that does.

Why do basements around Williamsport get wet?

Most wet basements are not river floods. They're groundwater and storm runoff finding the weak points in a foundation. Williamsport averages about 43.5 inches of precipitation a year under the 1991 to 2020 normals, and that water has to go somewhere. Common culprits:

• Hydrostatic pressure. When the soil around the foundation stays saturated, water pushes in through the cove joint where the wall sits on the footing, and up through cracks in the floor slab.
• Roof water dumped at the wall. A downspout that empties right next to the house can put hundreds of gallons against one corner of the basement in a single storm.
• Grading that slopes toward the house. Soil settles over the years. A yard that once pitched away from the foundation can end up funneling water back to it.
• Old foundation materials. Stone, brick and block walls have more joints and mortar for water to work through than a modern poured wall.
• Hillside runoff. Homes below a slope, such as along the foot of Bald Eagle Mountain in South Williamsport or the hollows north of the city, can take water from above as well as from the roof.

What about the river and the levee?

The West Branch at the Williamsport gauge reaches flood stage at 20 feet, according to the National Weather Service. Its highest recorded crest was 34.75 feet on June 23, 1972, from the remnants of Hurricane Agnes, and the 1936 flood was close behind at 33.57 feet. The Greater Williamsport levee system, built in the 1950s and upgraded after Agnes, is two levees with a combined length of about 11 miles that help protect roughly 12,000 residents in the city, South Williamsport, Loyalsock and Old Lycoming Township. Work to rehabilitate and recertify it has been underway in recent years.

Here's the key point: waterproofing keeps groundwater and seepage out. It is not designed to hold back a river that has topped its banks. If your basement took river water, you need cleanup and an electrician's check first, and a conversation with your flood insurer. A waterproofing company can help afterward with the everyday seepage that often shows up once the ground is soaked.

What will the waterproofing company look at?

1. Where the water shows up. Water at the base of the wall points to the cove joint. A wet stripe down the wall points to a crack. Damp everywhere with no puddles often points to humidity.
2. The outside. Gutters, downspouts, grading, window wells and any patio or walk that slopes toward the house.
3. The foundation itself. Wall type, cracks, bowing or stair-step patterns in block, and any efflorescence (the white, chalky residue left behind when water evaporates).
4. The sump, if you have one. Pump age, discharge line, whether there's a backup, and where the water goes once it leaves the house.

What kind of fix is usually involved?

It depends on the source. Many basements need a combination: a perimeter drain inside the footing that feeds a sump pump, injected crack repair on poured walls, excavation and membrane work outside where interior systems aren't enough, and a basement dehumidifier to control the summer damp that the West Branch valley is known for. Some problems need only gutter and grading fixes. An honest crew will say so.

How do I check out the company before signing?

Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires home improvement contractors who do $5,000 or more of work a year to register with the Office of Attorney General. Registered contractors must carry at least $50,000 in personal injury and $50,000 in property damage liability coverage, and their PA registration number has to appear on their ads, estimates and contracts. For any job over $500, the law requires a signed written contract that describes the work, gives start and finish dates and the total price, and includes notice of your three-day right to cancel. Our Lycoming County basement water guide lays out these rules, along with local permit and flood information, in more detail.

Areas we cover

• Williamsport
• South Williamsport
• Loyalsock Township
• Montoursville

Planning ahead? Read our Lycoming County basement water guide.