Water Damage Restoration in Bensalem, PA

Why do two creeks and a river matter in Bensalem?

Bensalem sits between Poquessing Creek and Neshaminy Creek, and the Delaware River forms its southeast edge. A rainstorm can fill the creeks, and the tidal river can hold water back so that the creeks drain more slowly. That is the general picture. The details for any one street should come from county flood maps, not from a web page.

If you live near either creek or the river, ask your agent about flood coverage. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, and a separate policy from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer generally takes 30 days to take effect.

River and creek water is Category 3, and the crew removes porous materials that touched it. The flood damage cleanup page explains how. Surface water and creek water are cleaned the same way.

What changes between a basement house and a slab house?

The housing is mostly 1950s to 1970s single-family homes, split-levels and townhomes, and many have basements or slab foundations. No survey backs that up; it is a general pattern. A basement collects water in one place, and a crew can pump it out. A slab house has no such low point, so water spreads across the floor and into the walls and flooring on a single level.

On a slab, supply lines may run in the slab or in the attic, and a leak can wet a whole floor of carpet, tile or laminate. Moisture readings through the flooring tell the crew how far it went. The water damage restoration page explains the process.

In a basement house, the usual failures are a sump pump that stops, a water heater that rusts through and a washing machine hose. The basement flooding cleanup page covers what is pumped, removed and dried in a wet basement.

What is different about the commercial roads?

Street Road, Bristol Pike and I-95 cross the township, and well-known destinations such as Neshaminy Mall and Parx Casino are reported to be here. Along the busy roads there are typically retail strips and offices, and water there is a light-commercial job.

A burst line or a failed roof drain in a retail strip can wet several tenants. The commercial water damage page explains how a walkthrough and quote work. Tell the crew who the tenants are and where the shut-off is.

Because Bensalem is close to Northeast Philadelphia, the housing and the roads blend into the city's edge. The houses are still in Bucks County, and the permits are not the city's.

Who handles permits in Bucks County?

Bensalem is a township in Bucks County, so building, plumbing and electrical permits come from the township's office, not from the county and not from Philadelphia. Emergency drying usually needs none, but rebuilt walls or new circuits can.

The Pennsylvania rule is the same here as anywhere in the state. Most home improvement contractors must register with the Attorney General, and jobs over $500 need a written contract. You can check a contractor's registration on the Attorney General's website.

A contractor working across the Philadelphia line does not need a Philadelphia license for home improvement on one- and two-family houses, but plumbing and electrical work still need a trade license in the city. In Bensalem, ask the township what applies.

Before any repair begins, photograph the damage, keep damaged items until your insurer says otherwise and ask your agent whether your policy has a water backup endorsement. Coverage is decided by your insurer, and the crew can supply moisture readings and photos for a claim.