Water damage restoration in Lebanon and Hanover

Lebanon's early settlement clustered along the Connecticut in what is now West Lebanon, and downtown lies about 3 miles east along the Mascoma River, where a mill district grew at the falls. ^[1] A home's distance from either river matters, so check official flood maps. Hanover's original center, the Plain, sits around 150 feet above the Connecticut, ^[2] while other parts of town, such as Etna, are rural.

July 2023 storms flooded waterways in the region, and a federal disaster declaration followed for New Hampshire. ^[3] Hillside rain can move quickly into brooks, and road washouts can complicate access, so describe your road when you call.

Lebanon's coldest recorded temperature is −34°F and Hanover's is −40°F. ^{[1] [2]} Snow averages 72.1 inches in Lebanon and 60.6 inches in Hanover. ^{[1] [2]} That means long ice dam seasons and deep frost, so exposed pipes in ells, porches and old cellars are at real risk. See burst pipe water damage.

Drying also has to respect the weather. Ventilating a wet house at these temperatures risks freezing other lines. A contractor should explain how heat and airflow will be managed while protecting plumbing.

Lebanon's mill district declined in the 1950s and 1960s, and a 1964 fire destroyed a large part of it, leading to urban renewal. ^[1] The Colburn Park Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1986, sits at the city's center. ^[1] Older buildings may need the kinds of checks described in our wet drywall guide.

Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, established in 1769. ^[2] Rental houses and apartments near campus raise the same questions as elsewhere about who reports what, and college-owned property will have its own process. Long breaks can leave homes unattended, so plan for winter checks.

Lebanon is a city and Hanover is a town, each with its own offices. Claremont and other nearby towns on the coverage list also have their own. Confirm permit needs before major repairs, particularly in flood zones or historic districts.

Down the valley is Keene. To the southeast is Concord. Vermont addresses across the river are outside this New Hampshire list.

West Lebanon grew into a railroad hub on the Connecticut River, with its own identity and its own ZIP code, 03784. ^[1] A major shopping district stands at the Route 12A and I-89 junction, just south of the village. ^[1] Older homes in the village date from the railroad years, and low-lying land near the river should be checked against official flood maps. Commercial buildings around Route 12A have flat roofs, on which snow load and drain blockages are the most common water concerns.

Flat and low-slope roofs need particular attention in this much snow. Drains can freeze or clog, water ponds behind snow, and leaks then show up far from the roof's weak spot. Keeping the drains clear and having snow removed by a qualified crew helps. For a business, water on the sales floor may also affect stock and fixtures. Keep an inventory, photograph everything first and ask your insurer about business interruption coverage.

Downtown grew around falls on the Mascoma, where furniture mills, a tannery, machine shops, a woolen mill and a clothing factory all operated at one time. ^[1] Fires, including one in 1964 that destroyed much of the old mill district, led to an urban renewal project with a closed-off district called The Mall. ^[1] As a result, downtown mixes 19th-century survivors with later buildings, and old foundations may lie beneath newer structures.

Former industrial land can mean old drains and fill that may not behave as expected when water rises. If you own a building near the river, ask what lies below. The Colburn Park area, a National Register district since 1986, ^[1] also has older buildings where repairs should be handled with care. City Hall houses the Lebanon Opera House, ^[1] showing how long-standing public buildings often have several uses at once, and each of those uses matters when water gets in.

Dartmouth's original site on the Plain sits about a mile from the river and 150 feet above it, ^[2] so central Hanover is largely safe from river flooding. Its water concerns are mainly snow, old buildings and plumbing. Hanover Water Company is 52.8 percent owned by the college and 47.2 percent by the town, ^[2] so if you are in the service area, questions about mains and shutoffs may go there.

Etna and Hanover Center are smaller villages within the town limits. ^[2] Rural homes there may be on private wells and septic systems, with long driveways and hillside brooks. Washouts can complicate access in big storms, so describe your road clearly on the call. Average extreme snow depth is 17.8 inches, ^[2] and snow may hide a septic cover or a discharge line, which helps to mark before winter arrives.

The Connecticut forms Lebanon's western boundary and the state line, and both Lebanon and Hanover lie wholly within its watershed. ^{[1] [2]} In July 2023, heavy storms flooded major waterways in the region, and a federal disaster covering July 9 to 17 was later declared for New Hampshire. ^[3] Rain that falls in Vermont also reaches this river, so your forecast should take in more than your own town.

People who live near the river also cross state lines for work and services. Keep in mind that this site's coverage is by New Hampshire ZIP code, and that insurance rules and contractor requirements differ between the two states. If you own property on both sides, deal with each separately. Your insurer can explain, and the New Hampshire Insurance Department answers questions for New Hampshire policyholders. ^[4]

Back to all of New Hampshire. Nearby pages: Concord, Keene, Laconia, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth.

Related help for Lebanon and Hanover: water extraction, structural drying, sewage backup cleanup, fire damage restoration and smoke damage cleanup. First time dealing with this? Read the first hours after water damage.