Water Damage Restoration in Cheltenham, PA

What does the Army Corps say about Tookany Creek in Cheltenham?

A 2015 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report said urbanization in Cheltenham had brought increased stormwater runoff and floodplain recession, leading to reduced carrying capacity for Tookany Creek. In plain terms, more pavement sends more water to the creek faster, and the creek has less room to hold it.

Montgomery County planners also name Cheltenham, with Abington, as places that have taken Tookany flood damage. WHYY reports that the neighboring Jenkintown Creek watershed, part of the same system, is about 98 percent developed.

The creek's water, once it enters a house, is Category 3. Porous material that touched it generally comes out, and hard surfaces are cleaned and treated. See the flood damage cleanup page for details.

What was the 222 Church Road debate?

In 2022, more than 100 residents opposed eight townhomes proposed on a FEMA floodplain at 222 Church Road in Elkins Park, according to WHYY. The opposition shows how directly people here connect development to flooding.

For a homeowner the lesson is practical. Whether your address is on a floodplain map affects insurance, and standard homeowners policies exclude flood. A separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer takes 30 days to become effective.

Check FEMA's flood maps and ask your agent. The crew documents damage, but the insurer decides coverage.

Why do twins and stone houses seep here?

Semi-detached twins and large older stone or stucco homes often have deep stone basements. Mortar between stones breaks down over decades, and long rain pushes water through. Early copper or galvanized supply lines and cast-iron drains are common in houses of this age.

Plaster over lath and stone dry slowly. A technician measures at several heights because water wicks up masonry, and the crew keeps drying equipment on site until readings are normal. The stone basement water damage page covers it in more detail.

Twins share a wall, so the other half of the house is checked as well.

What does a township permit mean for water repairs?

Cheltenham is a township, and building, plumbing and electrical permits in Montgomery County are handled by each township or borough, not the county. Ask your township or borough building office what your repair needs.

Under Pennsylvania law, most home improvement contractors must register with the Attorney General, and a written contract is required for jobs over $500. A written contract must carry the contractor's registration number and the approximate start and completion dates. You can ask any company for its number.

Where does Cheltenham's creek water go next?

The Tookany is the name for the parts of the watershed outside Philadelphia, and it becomes the Tacony once it crosses the city line. Its lower end is Frankford Creek. That is why the Fox Chase and Kensington pages mention Cheltenham: rain here is the upstream half of a story that continues in the city.

A watershed organization works on the system, which drains roughly 30 square miles. A storm that fills the creek in Cheltenham reaches the Northeast and the river wards later.

For a homeowner, the point is local: the creek rises quickly, and the people nearest to it are the ones to watch the weather for.

What does a typical Cheltenham basement call look like?

It often starts as a damp spot and a smell. In a deep stone cellar the water may have been seeping for days before anyone sees it on the floor. The first visit measures where moisture is, then extracts what is standing and sets drying equipment.

Houses with early copper or galvanized lines can also have supply failures, and old cast-iron stacks can crack. A plumber fixes those. A burst pipe's water damage is what the crew handles, as the burst pipe page explains.

If you find standing water, stay out of it near outlets and the panel, and call. The first free crew is dispatched.