Water Damage Restoration in Irving Park, Chicago
If water is coming up through your floor drain right now, shut off anything electric in the room before you do anything else. Irving Park's combined sewer system backs up during heavy rain, and it hits older bungalow basements the hardest. The CleanUP Guys has been pulling water out of Irving Park basements since 1986, IICRC Certified #94208, with same-day response and a free estimate.
The Irving Park crew that knows your bungalow
Irving Park sits in Chicago's brick bungalow belt, built mostly in the 1920s through the 1940s, with the Kennedy Expressway and the Metra Milwaukee District North line running through it. Most of the neighborhood drains into a combined sewer that carries storm water and waste in one pipe, which is exactly why a bungalow basement can flood in a hard storm even when nothing in the house itself has failed. Below we walk through what to do in the first 30 minutes, why these basements flood the way they do, what the work costs, who pays for it, and the questions we get asked most.
What to do in the first 30 minutes
- Cut power to the wet area first, but only if you can reach the breaker panel without standing in water. If you cannot, leave it and call ComEd.
- Photograph the water, the source, and the damage before cleanup starts. Your insurer wants to see it as it happened.
- If it came up the floor drain, stay out of it. That is a sewer backup, and it carries bacteria. No bare feet, no kids, no pets.
- Report a sewer backup to 311. It's free, it creates a record, and it's how the city tracks a blocked main on your block.
- Call a crew for anything past a few inches. A shop vac and a box fan cannot reach what's sitting inside a bungalow's subfloor and framing, and that trapped moisture is what grows mold within 48 hours.
Why Irving Park basements flood
The neighborhood's own housing stock and infrastructure explain most of it.
Combined sewers back up
Storm water and waste share one pipe under most of the neighborhood. A hard summer storm overwhelms it, and it pushes back up through the lowest drain in the building.
The bungalow belt
Irving Park sits in Chicago's brick bungalow belt, built mostly in the 1920s to 1940s. These homes have shallow, low-clearance basements that flood differently than a new-construction house, and it changes how we extract and dry them.
Old downspouts, old drains
Bungalows often have two or more downspouts draining a large roof straight toward the foundation. A century of settling clay soil and aging drain tile means moisture finds its way in.
Six Corners-adjacent blocks
The denser two-flats and courtyard buildings near Six Corners share basements and sewer lines the same way. One backup can affect more than one household.
Kennedy & Metra corridor
The Kennedy Expressway and the Metra Milwaukee District North line cut through Irving Park, and the viaducts along that corridor are a known local flood point during heavy rain.
Frozen & burst pipes
Supply lines in exterior walls and unheated additions split in a hard freeze, and the leak often runs behind the wall for a while before it shows at the baseboard.
According to the Chicago Bungalow Association, an estimated 42% of Cook County is impervious surface, and the city's century-old combined sewer system can reach capacity and back up during a hard storm. Most Irving Park bungalows were built with two or more roof downspouts, which is exactly the kind of detail that explains why a home with no plumbing failure at all can still take on water.
Our response process
The same order every time, whether it's a bungalow basement or a two-flat near Six Corners.
Call & Dispatch
You call, we ask what happened and where the water is, and a crew heads your way. We pick up 24/7, and it's usually the owner or a real person, never a call center.
Inspection
On site we find the source, map how far it spread using moisture meters, and check the water category. Then you get a written estimate before any work starts.
Water Extraction
We extract the standing water with truck-mounted and portable equipment, then remove soaked carpet, pad, and anything past saving so the drying can reach what's left.
Structural Drying
Air movers and commercial dehumidifiers dry the framing, subfloor, and wall cavities. We check the moisture daily and don't call it done until the numbers say dry.
Clean & Mold Check
We clean and sanitize what stayed, check for mold, and treat it if it started. If sewage was involved, everything it touched gets disinfected.
Insurance & Documentation
We document the whole job with photos and moisture readings, and bill your insurance directly so you're not fronting the full cost.
How long does it take?
Extraction happens the same day. Drying usually runs 3 to 5 days. Repairs can add a week or two, depending on how much got wet.
What the work costs in Irving Park
→ Swipe to see full table
| Job type | Typical range | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Water cleanup & drying | $1,300 – $6,300 | Square footage, water category, how much has to come out |
| Sewage backup cleanup | $7 – $14 / sq ft | Black water needs full sanitizing and more disposal |
| Mold treatment | $500 – $3,000 | Only if moisture sat long enough for mold to start |
Ranges are typical for the Chicago area. Every job is quoted in writing once we see it, so you're not guessing.
Who pays for it
The answer changes with the building and how it got in.
✔ Usually covered
- A pipe that bursts or lets go suddenly
- A sudden appliance or supply-line failure
- Water from the unit above, under their policy or the building's
- A sewer backup, but only if you added a water-backup rider before it happened
✗ Often denied
- A sewer backup with no backup rider on the policy
- Groundwater or storm flooding that comes in from outside, which needs separate flood insurance
- Slow, long-term leaks an insurer calls neglect
- A renter's belongings, unless they carry their own renters policy
Renting in Irving Park? Tell your landlord in writing the same day and photograph the water line and your things before anything gets moved. The landlord covers the building; your own belongings are only covered if you carry renters insurance. Own a bungalow or two-flat? Report a sewer backup to 311 to put it on record, and check whether your policy has a water-backup rider before you assume it's covered.
A Chicago rebate for flood prevention
The City of Chicago's Basement Flooding Partnership has, at times, offered a rebate covering a share of the cost of overhead sewers or backwater valves for qualifying homeowners, including in Irving Park. Programs and amounts change, so confirm current details and eligibility directly with the City of Chicago before budgeting for it, but it's worth asking about if you're dealing with repeat flooding and considering a permanent fix, not just a cleanup.
Why Chicago neighbors call us
Real reviews from real jobs. IICRC Certified #94208, family owned since 1986.
"Sherm and his crew came out fast and got our basement clean, dry, and mold free. They exceeded the scope of their job and helped us in our time of need. Could not recommend them more."
"The CleanUP Guys showed up the next day and did a fantastic job with the basement cleaning and mold remediation. The basement just smells better. Friendly, family, down to earth workers that gave us a great price and excellent service."
"The Clean Up Guys were timely, professional and very easy to work with. They finished the job quickly and as promised at a very reasonable price. We would definitely use this company again."
Why Irving Park trusts The CleanUP Guys
What makes this different from calling a name off a search results page.
What's different about a flooded bungalow basement?
A bungalow basement sits lower and shallower than a new-construction home's, with older clay drain tile and foundations that have settled for a century. We've worked these basements since 1986, so we know what usually needs to come out and what can be saved.
How fast can you get to Irving Park?
We run crews across the North and Northwest Side and answer 24/7, so we reach Irving Park the same day, often within the hour. Give us the cross streets and we'll tell you straight how soon we can be there.
Do you bill my insurance directly?
Yes. We document the loss with photos and moisture readings, write it up the way carriers want it, and bill them directly so you're not fronting the whole cost.
Water damage questions, answered
Direct answers to what people in Irving Park and across Chicago actually search.
What should I do if my basement is flooded?
Cut power to the wet area if you can reach the panel safely, stop the source if you're able to, and photograph everything before you move it. Then call a restoration crew for anything past a few inches. The longer the water sits, the more has to come out and the higher the chance mold takes hold.
How much does it cost to fix a basement after a flood?
It comes down to the water category, how much area got wet, and whether soaked drywall or flooring has to come out. Cleanup and drying usually runs $1,300 to $6,300, sewage cleanup runs about $7 to $14 per square foot, and mold treatment, if needed, is usually $500 to $3,000. You get a written estimate first.
Will a flooded basement dry on its own?
The surface might look dry, but the water trapped in the subfloor, drywall, and framing doesn't leave on its own, and that's where mold grows. A box fan moves surface air but doesn't pull moisture out of the structure. It takes commercial dehumidifiers and moisture readings to get it truly dry.
Is it safe to live in a house with a flooded basement?
It depends on what's in the water and how long it's been sitting. Clean water from a burst pipe is lower risk if it's extracted quickly. A sewer backup is a health hazard until it's professionally cleaned and disinfected, and standing water near outlets is an electrical risk either way.
Is it normal to get water in the basement after heavy rain?
In older Irving Park homes it's common, especially in bungalows on blocks with combined sewers, but common isn't the same as fine. Repeated flooding usually means the sewer is overwhelmed or the foundation is letting water in, and it's worth finding the real cause instead of mopping up after every storm.
Who pays for water damage in a rental property?
The landlord is responsible for the building itself and its repairs. Your own belongings are only covered by your renters insurance. Report it to the landlord in writing right away and photograph everything, since these disputes usually come down to who reported what and when.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewer backup and basement flooding?
A sudden burst pipe is usually covered. A sewer backup is only covered if you added a water-backup rider before it happened. Groundwater or storm flooding that rises in from outside needs separate flood insurance and generally isn't covered by a standard homeowners policy.
How long does water damage restoration take?
Extraction usually happens the same day you call. Drying with air movers and dehumidifiers typically runs 3 to 5 days depending on how much got wet. If sewage, mold, or repairs are involved, the full job can stretch to one or two weeks. We give you a specific timeline once we've inspected it.
How long before a wet basement grows mold?
Mold can start within 24 to 48 hours if moisture stays trapped in drywall, insulation, or framing, and you often won't see it because it's inside the wall. That's why drying the cavity quickly, and confirming it with a moisture meter, is what actually keeps mold from setting in.
Why does my Irving Park basement flood during heavy rain?
Most of the neighborhood sits on a combined sewer system that carries storm water and waste in one pipe, and a hard storm can overwhelm it and push water back up through the lowest drain in the house. Older bungalow drain tile and settled foundations add to it, even with no plumbing failure at all.
Is there a City of Chicago rebate for flood-prevention work in Irving Park?
The City of Chicago's Basement Flooding Partnership has offered rebates covering part of the cost of overhead sewers or backwater valves for qualifying homes. Programs and amounts change over time, so confirm current availability and eligibility directly with the City before budgeting for the work.
What's different about restoring a flooded basement in an older Chicago bungalow?
Bungalow basements are shallower and older, often with clay drain tile and multiple roof downspouts draining close to the foundation. That changes where water tends to enter and how we approach extraction and drying compared to a newer, deeper basement.
What should I do in the first 30 minutes after I find standing water?
Cut power to the wet area if it's safe to reach the panel, stop the source if you can, photograph everything, and keep people and pets away from the water if it came up the floor drain. Report a sewer backup to 311, then call a restoration crew for anything past a few inches.
Sherman has led The CleanUP Guys since 1986 and has personally worked water, sewage, and mold jobs across Irving Park and the North and Northwest Side for 40 years. Our crew is IICRC certified (#94208) and follows industry drying standards on every job. This page is reviewed and kept current by our team so the guidance here matches what we actually do on site.
Water damage in Irving Park? Let us help.
Free estimate across Irving Park and the North Side. We find the source, dry it right, and handle the insurance paperwork.
Water damage help across Irving Park and nearby
We cover all of Irving Park and the surrounding neighborhoods. Also serving nearby Lakeview and Logan Square.
Water Damage in Irving Park? Call Now.
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