A flooded basement is one of the most stressful and expensive home disasters you can experience as a homeowner. In addition to the short-term issue of what to do with all that water, you have to clean up the messy aftermath and sort through all your damaged belongings—and you’ve got to move quickly before mold and mildew start to grow.
Whether flooding is caused by heavy rains, a burst pipe, or a malfunctioning sump pump, our step-by-step guide will walk you through what you need to do if your basement floods and provides tips to prevent future flooding.
Step 1: Ensure Safety First
At the sight of water, your first impulse might be to rush into the basement to assess the damage and start saving your belongings—but safety is the top priority. A flooded basement can create dangerous conditions, so your first move should be to take smart steps to protect yourself:
• Turn Off the Power: Water and electricity are a deadly combination. Don’t step foot in a flooded basement if the power is still on. Instead, turn off the electricity at your home’s main breaker panel. If you’re unsure whether it’s safe to do so or if the breaker panel is in an area that’s flooded, contact your utility company.
• Wear Protective Gear: Floodwater can be contaminated with sewage, chemicals, or other harmful substances. Wear rubber boots, gloves, and a mask to protect yourself from exposure, or call a company that specializes in water clean up and restoration.
Step 2: Identify the Source of the Flooding
Once it’s safe to enter the basement, your next step is to figure out where the water is coming from:
• Check for External Sources: If heavy rains or snowmelt caused the flood, water might be seeping in through cracks in the foundation, windows, or walls. Inspect the exterior of your home, including window wells, for water accumulation around the foundation. Heavy rains can also block or overwhelm sewer systems, forcing sewage and wastewater back up through the drains in your home. This type of flooding is often accompanied by a foul odor and can cause significant damage to your property, as well as health risks due to contaminated water.
• Inspect Plumbing: If the flooding occurred during dry weather, a burst pipe or malfunctioning appliance could be the culprit. Inspect your pipes, water heater, washing machine, and any other plumbing fixtures in the basement for signs of leaks or damage. Turn off the water at the source—the main water supply if a pipe has burst or the shutoff valve for the water supply that runs directly to the appliance.
• Check the Sump Pump: If you have a sump pump, check to see if it’s working correctly. A failed sump pump is a common cause of basement flooding and if it’s not functioning as it should, it should be replaced or repaired immediately.
Step 3: Remove the Water
After you’ve figured out the source of the flood and stopped the water from flowing, it’s time to start removing standing water. It’s important to move quickly because mold can start to grow as quickly as 24 to 48 hours. How you remove the water will depend on just how much is in the basement:
• Small Amounts of Water: If there’s only a small amount of water, you can use a floor squeegee to push the water to a floor drain or a wet/dry vacuum to suck it up.
• Moderate to Severe Flooding: If you’ve got a significant amount of water, a portable submersible pump can remove large volumes of water quickly and is relatively easy to set up. If flooding is especially severe, you may need to rent a larger pump or hire a professional water removal service to get the water out.
If flooding is caused by a sewer back up, stop using all water sources in your home—sinks, showers, toilets—to stop additional sewage from backing up. Report the backup to your city or municipality to have them inspect the sewers and clear the blockage.
Step 4: Document the Damage and Dry Out the Basement
Once the water is removed, it’s critical to dry out the basement as quickly as possible to prevent mold growth. As you’re working, take time to document the damage for your insurance company; take photos, and keep a detailed list of all the damage to your home and belongings.
• Remove Wet Items: Remove any furniture, carpeting, and other items that have been soaked. If any items are salvageable, move them to a dry area to let them dry out.
• Use Fans and Dehumidifiers: Open doors and windows and set up fans to circulate air and speed up the drying process. You should also run dehumidifiers continuously to remove excess moisture from the air.
Step 5: Clean and Disinfect the Area
After the basement is dry, the next step is to clean and disinfect the area. This is especially important if your basement flood was caused by a sewer backup or other contaminated water. You can hire an outside company to handle the clean up or you can do it yourself by following these steps:
• Scrub Surfaces: Use a stiff brush and a cleaning solution of warm water and mild detergent to scrub walls, floors, and any other surfaces.
• Disinfect: After cleaning, disinfect the area. A solution of one cup of bleach to one gallon of water will kill any bacteria, mold spores, or other harmful microorganisms. When working with bleach, wear gloves and make sure the area is well-ventilated.
• Dispose of Contaminated Materials: If your basement is finished, drywall and carpeting should be ripped out and replaced—it’s a big expense, but these materials are porous and can harbor mold and bacteria even after drying.
6. Tips to Prevent Future Flooding
Once you’ve lived through the stress and expense of a flooded basement, you’ll probably want to do everything you can to address the root causes of the flood and prevent future disasters. While some mitigation efforts, like having your basement professionally waterproofed, come with a big price tag, these six less expensive steps can go a long way towards preventing future floods.
1. Install a Sump Pump with Battery Backup: A sump pump is your first line of defense against basement flooding. Test the pump regularly to make sure it’s working and consider installing a battery backup system if you don’t already have one so it keeps running if the power goes out.
2. Use a Dehumidifier: Running a dehumidifier can help control moisture levels in the basement and reduce the risk of mold growth. Set it to maintain humidity levels below 50%.
3. Check for Proper Grading: The ground should slope away from your home to direct rainwater away from the foundation. If the ground is level or—worse—slopes towards the house, it’s time to regrade your property
4. Maintain Gutters and Downspouts: Clean your gutters regularly to clear leaves, twigs, and other debris that’s stopping water from flowing freely and add one of our gutter screen products to keep them clear. Check that downspouts are directing water at least five feet away from your foundation; if they aren’t, our Tilt and Drain Downspouts can redirect water that’s pooling around your home.
5. Seal Leaks: If water got into your home through holes around pipes and utility wires or cracks in the foundation, patch the gaps. For larger openings, you can save on expensive caulk by first filling cracks with Mortite Caulking Cord and then filling in with a caulk made for use with concrete. If cracks are wider than ½”, it’s time to call in a professional to do a thorough inspection. If your basement windows are leaking, check that the drain in the window well isn’t clogged, add a window well cover, and caulk around windows to keep out the rain.
6. Prevent Sewer Backups: If sewage backups are an issue, install a backwater valve that closes automatically to stop sewage from flowing back into your home. Have the sewer lines inspected and maintained regularly and avoid flushing inappropriate items that could clog the lines.
Check out Three Easy—and Inexpensive—Things You Can Do to Keep Your Basement Dry for more helpful tips.
