It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare. You come home from being away, or you wake up in the morning, and you hear water flowing into your basement. What on earth are you supposed to do next? Before panic sets in, it’s time to act – and fast. Here’s what to do when your basement floods.

Step 1: Establish Whether or Not it’s Safe to Enter

When your basement floods, it’s typical to be in a haste while you find out what’s going on, you may think about running straight into the basement to identify the source of the water.

Stop! It might not be safe to enter!

Firstly, establish the extent of the water. Is it a little puddle on the floor, or is it a body of standing water?
It might be safe to enter if you can see a clear floor around a small section of water, but anything more than that can pose a severe risk.

Electricity

Remember, if water can get into your electrical sockets, then there’s a chance you could receive an electric shock if you step into the basement.

You can’t be sure what’s lurking underneath that layer of water.
If you can access your electrical panel without going into the basement, then turn the power off to your home from there. If it’s located in the basement, get in touch with an electrician to turn it off at the power supply.
Gas

What about gas?

Electricity may not be your only problem in a flooded basement. If gas-fired appliances are in your basement and could be impacted by floodwater. Call a professional company immediately.

They will be able to switch your gas supply off. If you smell gas, leave your home quickly.
If electricity and gas pose no threat, you can move onto step two.

Step 2: Find the Source of Water in Your Basement

There could be any number of reasons why you have a flooded basement. The sooner you identify the source of water, the sooner you can solve the problem.

Some of the more common causes include:
● The floor drain
● Plumbing or appliances
● Heavy rain through windows, floors, walls, and foundations

The floor drain

When your basement floods it’s quite common for problems to occur with a sump pump or drainage system that causes basement flooding. Sometimes, there can be a backup in the city sewer lines. Contact your local water damage company immediately. They can either solve the problem on-site or point you in the direction of the water and sewage department of your city if the issue lies further out.

Plumbing or appliances

If an appliance has broken down, then it can be easy to identify the source of the flood. You will notice water gushing from a pipe or hose of a washing machine or water heater. Shut off the water supply to the appliance. You can then set about cleaning up the water and arranging for the appliance to be fixed.

If you can’t shut off the water to that specific appliance, then turn off your home’s entire water supply.

Heavy Rain

Heavy rain causes millions of dollars of damage to homes across The United States annually. The water level will likely rise until the rain stops. If you can do so safely, switch off your basement’s water supply and move your possessions to higher ground.

Step 3: Save Your Belongings

The heartbreaking thing about flooding is that you can face significant possession loss.

Still, there will be some things that you can salvage. Once it’s safe to enter your basement, unplug electronics and prioritize the things that matter the most.

Electronics can be expensive to replace, so unplug these and remove them when it’s safe to do so.

If you store documents in your basement, then bring these to higher ground, too.

Passports, house titles, and financial documents that are challenging to replace should all be at the top of your priority list.

Next in line are photo albums, family heirlooms, and those irreplaceable items like original books and souvenirs.

Throw away water-damaged electronics and any drywall, carpet, and rugs that floodwater has submerged.

If anything featuring fabric hasn’t been washed and dried within 1-2 days, then throw it away, as well.

Step 4: Dry and Clean

The way you dry out your basement can depend on the depth of the water. However deep it is, though, you’ll need to act fast to prevent mold and further damage.

You can take care of shallow water with a mop and a bucket. Remember, many hands make light work, so get the whole family involved.

Deep standing water may see the need for a wet/dry vacuum and/or a submersible pump.

Once you have removed the water, open basement windows to allow airflow, and set up fans. Space heaters should be combined with dehumidifiers to prevent humidity.

How to Prevent Mold After Your Basement Floods

Moisture is mold’s best friend, so it’s crucial to break up that friendship as soon as possible.

Once you have removed the water from your basement and salvaged your possessions, it’s now time to focus on how to prevent mold from taking up residence.

The first thing you need to do is get ready for some elbow grease. Arm yourself with a disinfectant product like bleach and water and clean your flooring and walls. Once it dries, repeat the process.

If any of your furniture came into contact with floodwater, then you will need to clean these as well.

You can rely on a professional or take care of the process yourself with warm, soapy water. Air-dry anything that has been wet, and wipe down surfaces with mold-control products.

Understand Your Insurance

House insurance can be a complicated beast. While you think you have cover for any disaster that befalls your property, that’s not always the case. Especially when it comes to your basement.

Typical house insurance often covers flooding by appliances, water heaters, overflowing tubs, sinks, and burst pipes from freezing. However, there are situations where it doesn’t.

For example, flooding caused by natural events like storms and heavy rain may not be covered under general house insurance.

Specific flood insurance might cover your personal belongings, but not the structure like your flooring.

Damage from a sewer system backup may also not be covered, or water seeping from underground your home.

It pays to think of every possible situation for damage when you take out insurance so that you’re aware of what you are and aren’t covered for.

And there you have it folks. Our step by step guide on what to do when your basement floods. If you have any questions and want to reach out to our experts feel free to message us in real time on our Facebook fan page or call us at 1-833-933-7948.