Water Damage Restoration in Abington, PA

Which creeks have flooded Abington?

County planning documents list Abington among the places hit by Tookany Creek flood damage. Along its Lower Moreland edge it has also been hit by the Pennypack. Two separate creek systems touch one township, so the story depends on which side of Abington you live on.

The Tookany is the name for the parts of the roughly 30-square-mile watershed outside Philadelphia. WHYY reports that the watershed of Jenkintown Creek, which is part of that system, is about 98 percent developed and highly impaired, so storm runoff reaches the creek fast. The Pennypack watershed covers about 56 square miles.

Creek floodwater is Category 3 and standard homeowners policies exclude flood. A separate flood policy takes 30 days to become effective. The flood damage cleanup page explains what a cleanup involves.

What do early-to-mid 20th-century homes in Abington have in common underground?

Basements are the main event. Houses from the early to mid 20th century often have poured or block foundations, a floor drain and a sump pit in the low corner. Older supply lines may be galvanized, and older drain lines may be cast iron or clay. These are typical patterns, not counts.

A basement that is finished with paneling, carpet and a drop ceiling hides water. A technician checks the wall cavity and the slab with moisture meters, not just the surface. Sump pump failure during a storm is a common way a damp basement turns into a flooded one.

Twins share a wall. Water on one side can reach the other, so the crew checks both. The sump pump failure page explains how a pump failure is cleaned up.

What does being a township mean for repairs?

Abington is a township, and building, plumbing and electrical permits in Montgomery County are handled by each township or borough, not the county. Ask the contractor which permits apply to your job, and ask your township or borough building office what is required. The contractor must also be registered under Pennsylvania's home improvement law.

Pennsylvania requires most home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General and put a written contract in place for jobs over $500. You can look up a contractor's registration on the Attorney General's site. Repair and reconstruction after water damage, such as flood cuts, drywall and flooring, fits the law's definition of home improvement.

The crew documents the damage with photos and moisture readings, which you can share with your insurer.

Is Jefferson Abington Hospital's neighborhood any different?

Jefferson Abington Hospital opened as Abington Memorial Hospital in May 1914, on land and funding from George W. Elkins. Streets near it are older, with houses of mixed ages. The hospital is mentioned here as a landmark, not as a flood fact.

Rydal's railroad station dates to 1883 and was first named Benezet. Older streets near rail lines tend to have older houses, and older houses tend to have older pipes. Whatever the age, a leak in an attached home reaches the neighbor.

Rain on a township this size also falls unevenly. A cloudburst over Glenside can leave Rydal dry, so the first question a technician asks is where your water came from, not only how much of it there is.

What changes in winter for an Abington house?

Pipes in exterior walls, unheated garages and vacant houses freeze first. A frozen pipe often leaks only when it thaws, so the damage appears hours after the cold breaks. Advice many utilities give is to keep the heat at 55 degrees or higher when away and to open cabinet doors on exterior walls.

Ice dams are the other winter route in. Heat escaping into the attic melts snow, the meltwater refreezes at the eaves and backs up under shingles, and the result is a stained ceiling or wet insulation. The ice dam page covers the cleanup, though roof replacement is not offered.