Hackensack Water Damage Restoration and Flood Help

Bergen County's seat sits only about 20 feet above sea level on the east bank of the Hackensack River, a tidal waterway that stays brackish up to the city because the Oradell dam, built in 1921, changed the lower river into an estuary. Within roughly four square miles you find the courthouse and medical center downtown, a mile-long strip of apartment towers on Prospect Avenue, garden apartment complexes, older two-family streets and single-family blocks in sections like Fairmount and North Hackensack.

The Restoration Job is a referral service rather than a contractor, and it runs a free phone line, (888) 317-9980, that connects you with independent restoration companies serving Hackensack, whether the problem is a flooded basement after a summer storm, a leak dripping through a high-rise ceiling or a backed-up floor drain.

A Tidal River Along the City's Western Edge

Because the river is tidal this far north, water levels along the Hackensack waterfront respond both to rain upstream and to conditions in Newark Bay. Low ground near the river and around Hackensack River County Park drains slowly when a downpour coincides with a high tide. Just downstream, Sandy showed what a coastal storm can do to this river system: on October 30, 2012 a berm overflowed in Bergen County and neighboring Little Ferry and Moonachie saw up to five feet of water in their streets.

Most Hackensack properties sit well above that kind of surge, but heavy rain is a citywide issue. Bergen County averages more than 3 inches of precipitation in every month, peaking around 4.6 inches in July, when thunderstorms can drop much of that in an hour or two. The city is working on a Watershed Improvement Plan under its state stormwater permit, aimed partly at stormwater flooding, and invites residents to adopt a storm drain and keep it clear of leaves and litter.

Prospect Avenue Towers and Garden Apartments

Hackensack has more multifamily housing than most of Bergen County. In a high-rise, water from a failed supply line, a washing machine hose or a sprinkler head rarely stays in one unit; it follows pipe chases and ceiling cavities to the floors below. In garden apartment complexes, a leak upstairs often shows up as stained ceilings and wet carpet in a neighbor's unit.

Responsibility is split. Building management or the association usually handles common pipes, roofs and the structure, while unit owners and tenants are responsible for their own contents and, depending on the documents, interior finishes. Report the leak to management right away, photograph the damage in every affected unit, and ask who will coordinate the water damage restoration so drying is not done piecemeal.

Older Homes and Two-Family Houses

Away from the towers, much of the city is older housing: two-family homes with shared basements, stately older houses on large lots and suburban single-family streets. These buildings tend to share a few weak points:

• Basements with floor drains that can back up when sewers are overloaded in heavy rain.
• Aging galvanized or copper supply lines and original cast-iron drain stacks.
• Finished basement rooms where paneling and carpet hide moisture for weeks.
• Older roofs and flashing that let water in during wind-driven rain.

In a two-family house, decide early whether the owner, the tenant or both will deal with each insurer, since contents and structure are often covered by separate policies.

Getting a Wet Basement or Unit Back to Dry

Start by stopping the source: shut the main valve for a pipe break, and stay out of a basement where water may reach outlets or a furnace until power is off. Photograph everything before moving it. Floodwater and sewer backup should be handled as contaminated, which means removing soaked carpet, padding and drywall rather than trying to clean them.

A provider handling water extraction will pump out standing water, measure moisture inside walls and subfloors, and set dehumidifiers and air movers. Drying typically takes several days, and readings should confirm framing is dry before anything is closed back up. Remember that a standard homeowners or renters policy does not cover rising floodwater; that requires separate flood insurance, and you can check your address on FEMA's flood maps.

Muggy Julys and Mold in Hackensack Basements

July in Hackensack averages highs in the mid-80s with plenty of moisture in the air, and basements here stay damp even without a leak. After water gets in, mold can begin growing on drywall paper, carpet backing and stored cardboard within a couple of days. Moving quickly on drying matters more than any spray. If you smell mustiness or see spotting after a past leak, a mold remediation provider can find the moisture source, contain the area and remove affected materials.