Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Ithaca, New York Area

What Makes Ithaca, New York Different

Ithaca sits at the south end of Cayuga Lake, where steep gorges carry Fall Creek, Cascadilla Creek and Six Mile Creek down to the flat valley floor. Heavy rain and snowmelt run off the hills fast, and low neighborhoods on the flats can take water in basements and crawlspaces. A basement that seeps every spring needs a sump pump and a dehumidifier, not just a fan.

Winters bring snow, ice and many freeze and thaw cycles. Ice dams form along the eaves of older homes with little attic insulation, and meltwater backs up under the shingles into ceilings and walls. Pipes in exterior walls, porches and unheated basements freeze and split, and the leak usually shows up when things warm up.

Much of the housing near downtown and the campuses is old, built long before 1978, and many homes are student rentals. Lead paint is common, and old plaster, pipe wrap and floor tile may contain asbestos, so test before you tear anything out. If you rent, tell the landlord about any leak in writing right away and photograph the damage.