Flood record
Flood and creek: what Wheeling's own hazard plan says
The Cook County hazard mitigation plan annex for Wheeling lists federal flood declarations in 1972, 1973, 1986, 1987, 1993, 2013 and 2023. It also names Buffalo Creek and the Des Plaines River floodplains as the village's flood sources. For a homeowner this means a wet basement in Wheeling is a pattern to plan for, not a freak event, and a working sump pump with a battery backup is basic equipment.
The April 2013 flood affected 46 structures, the largest local impact the plan lists. The same plan counts 17 FEMA repetitive-loss properties, 16 of them single-family homes. If your house has taken water before, ask a plumber about a check valve on the sewer line and a cleanable access point, since FEMA names both as ways to keep sewage out of a basement.
Wheeling water problems that follow a heavy rain
These are the symptoms that bring most storm-season calls. Each one points to a different cause and a different fix.
The sump pit is full and the pump is silent
A pump that does not start may have a stuck float, a tripped breaker or a dead motor. FEMA says to test it by pouring a bucket of water into the pit, because the pump should switch on.
If it does not, call the line. A plumber can swap the pump or add a battery backup so a power cut in the same storm does not leave you without drainage. See sump pump installation and repair.
Gurgling or water rising at the floor drain
Rain can overload the sewer system, and a blocked or damaged private line makes it worse. A camera run shows whether the blockage is roots, grease or a collapsed section.
Cleaning the line clears most backups. Sewer line cleaning and hydro jetting are the usual first steps.
Damp walls and a musty smell without standing water
Seepage through a foundation wall or floor joint points to drainage around the house rather than a plumbing leak. A plumber rules out a hidden supply leak first, then discusses drain tile and sump capacity.
That conversation starts with basement waterproofing and, when the meter keeps running with everything off, leak detection.
A plumber cannot change the creek, but the plumbing inside your house decides whether a storm becomes a cleanup.
Water coming in right now?
Call (847) 281-8626 and a dispatcher will talk you through the first minutes while a plumber is sent.
What to do if sewage or water is coming into the basement right now
Keep these steps in order. They protect your family first and the house second.
- Stay clear of the water.If it may reach outlets, the furnace or the panel, leave it alone and call the 24/7 line.
- Stop adding water.Skip showers, laundry and the dishwasher so nothing else flows into the same drain.
- Shut off the main water valveif a supply pipe is the source, then call.
- Protect your skin.The CDC advises rubber boots, gloves and goggles around sewage-contaminated water, and handwashing with soap afterward.
- Keep children and pets outuntil the area is cleaned.
- Smell gas? Leave at once.Do not use switches or phones inside. Call 911 or Nicor Gas at 800-942-9727 from outside.
Porous items soaked by sewage, such as carpet and drywall, are usually discarded, and the CDC says to dry the area within 24 to 48 hours.
Before we arrive at your Wheeling home
A few minutes of preparation lets the plumber start working the moment the door opens.
If the water supply was the problem, burst pipe repair follows the same steps.
Services dispatched around the clock in Wheeling
The emergency line covers every service below. Sump and drain work leads here because of the flood record above.
Sump pump installation and repair
Test, replace or back up the pump before the next storm, or fix a failure in the middle of one.
Sewer line cleaning
Clears roots and blockages that push sewage back through a floor drain.
Drain cleaning
For slow tubs and kitchen lines that back up when the ground is saturated.
Basement waterproofing
Addresses seepage and drainage after the immediate emergency is under control.
Leak detection
Finds a hidden supply leak when the meter moves with every fixture off.
Water heater repair
A flooded basement often reaches the burner or controls, so the heater needs a check.
Burst pipe repair
For a cold-snap break or a failed fitting, with the water shut off first.
Homes in nearby towns can call the same 24/7 line, and the dispatcher confirms coverage by address. For a larger village nearby, see plumber service in Arlington Heights.
Who handles what after a Wheeling basement backup
Several parties touch a flood. Knowing who owns which piece saves a phone call.
| Problem | First move | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Sump pump stopped | Test with a bucket of water | A plumber, same day through the 24/7 line |
| Floor drain backing up | Stop using water, stay clear | A plumber clears and inspects the private line |
| Sewer main problem on the street | Report it to the village | Wheeling Public Works handles water and sewer operations |
| Water heater was submerged | Do not relight it yourself | A plumber inspects it, and gas smell means leave and call |
| Damage to belongings | Photograph everything | Your insurer, since coverage for sudden water damage varies by policy |
FEMA notes most homeowner policies do not cover flooding but may cover minimal sewer backup damage, so read your own policy.
A plumber cannot decide a claim, but clear photos and a written description of the cause help when you call your insurer.
Permits, water supply and mobile homes in Wheeling
Wheeling's Community Development Department issues permits, and plumbing work appears on the village's common permits list. Ask the department before a water heater swap or a service line job. The village's Public Works Department handles water and sewer operations, which is the office to call about a main on the street.
Wheeling buys Lake Michigan water through the Northwest Water Commission, which is supplied by Evanston, the same arrangement as Buffalo Grove. Ask the village for its latest water quality report, or test your own tap before sizing a softener.
The hazard plan counts 517 mobile homes, about 2.3 percent of the housing. Supply lines under a manufactured home can sit in cold air, so the Red Cross advice to insulate pipes and keep a faucet dripping in a deep freeze matters there. Never thaw a pipe with an open flame, and call a plumber if gentle heat does not restore full pressure.
What shapes the price of a Wheeling flood-season call
Flood work varies a lot from house to house. A dispatcher explains the price before work starts, and these are the factors behind it.
Where the facts on this page come from
The flood history, repetitive-loss count, mobile home figure and the permit details come from the Cook County hazard mitigation plan annex for Wheeling and the village's common permits page. The pump test and check valve points come from FEMA, and the sewage safety steps from the CDC.
Water supply details come from the Northwest Water Commission listing and the village's Evanston notice.
Plumbers in Illinois are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and you can verify any plumber through its online license verification before work begins. Plumbing work follows the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890.
Wheeling's permit list and the state standards both apply, and the flood guidance here follows the county hazard plan rather than a rule of thumb.
Wheeling, Illinois on the map
Wheeling is a short drive from Buffalo Grove, and one 24/7 dispatch line covers the whole village.
Questions we hear from homeowners
Wheeling has a single ZIP code, 60090, and it covers the whole village from the Buffalo Creek side to the Des Plaines River floodplain. One 24/7 line dispatches to every address in it, including homes in the Lake County portion.
If your mail reads 60089, that is Buffalo Grove, and we serve it too.
Yes. The 24/7 line at (847) 281-8626 is answered at night, on weekends and on holidays, and a plumber is sent for backups, burst pipes and failed sump pumps.
Tell the dispatcher your street and what you see, and you will get steps to follow while you wait.
Yes. Storms do not wait for business hours, and the line is open at any hour. A plumber can replace a dead pump or add a battery backup on the same visit.
The Cook County hazard plan names Buffalo Creek and the Des Plaines River floodplains and counts 17 repetitive-loss properties. Homes in those areas see water more than once.
A tested sump pump, extended downspouts and a check valve on the sewer line lower the risk.
It depends on the policy. FEMA notes most homeowner policies do not cover flooding but may cover minimal sewer backup damage, so ask your insurer before a storm.
Wheeling's Community Development Department issues plumbing permits, but its page does not list which jobs need one. Ask the department, or ask the plumber to confirm before work starts.
Illinois licenses plumbers through the Illinois Department of Public Health, which offers an online license verification. Check the name and license before work begins.