How To Handle Basement Flooding

As a homeowner, there’s nothing more terrifying than realizing that your basement is flooding. You’re not helpless, though. We’ve put together some great tips on how you can decrease the damage and stop problems before they start in the midst of a stressful basement flood.

The first and most important tip is to not panic too much. This is an overwhelming scenario for anyone to find them in, but the more time that you spend worrying and freaking out about the basement flooding, the less effective you’ll be at actually handling the situation. Don’t overthink things; instead, take a deep breath, examine the situation, and begin thinking of realistic ways that you can take action now.

Here are some of the best ideas to keep in mind when your basement floods:

*One of the first things you must do as soon as you realize there’s any flooding in your basement is to turn off the power (both electric and gas) in that part of the house. Entering an area with flooding while power is on runs the risk of electrocution, injury, and even death. If you can’t shut off the power on your own or don’t know how, call an electrician to do so before you do anything else.

*If the flooding is definitely being caused by rain, you should wait until the rain is done before trying to do any serious work on it.

*Make sure that you have the proper protection while working in the flooded area. You should wear heavy-duty, waterproof gloves and boots while working in the water. Other optional protective clothing includes wading pants that go up to your hips or chest and a mask to protect against any dust or other materials that the water has kicked up into the air. You should also be very careful when walking through the flooded basement, as the floor’s surface will likely be more slippery than normal.

*Do your best to find the source of the flooding. If it’s not due to rain or external issues, it could be caused by a burst pipe. If this is the case, you should make sure to shut off water to that pipe.

*Check your basement’s floor drain, if you have one. If your basement is flooding despite having a drain, it’s possible that the drain has been clogged, and that should be fixed as soon as possible.

*As soon as you’re able, you should begin the process of getting rid of excess water that has built up in the basement. There are multiple methods for this, and what works best will be determined by how much water is in the basement. For example, a small amount of water can be taken care of with a simple mop and a bucket, while a larger flood could require a sump pump. Once most of the water has been removed, you can clean up what’s left with sponges or towels. Regardless, it’s important to start getting rid of the flooding right away, because otherwise, the water can continue to rise and even cause flooding in the other parts of the house.

*Take any damaged or soaked items in your basement, and move them to a dry area with good ventilation — ideally somewhere that has direct sunlight on it. Even if the basement has been cleared of water at this point, you should try to dry items elsewhere in the house, as they will dry faster. You should try to give your items at least two days to dry out before moving them back into the basement. Monitor the drying items closely throughout that 48 hours. You may need to get rid of severely damaged items, especially if any mildew or mold has started to build up on them. In particular, you should make sure to dispose of any cardboard boxes that got wet in the flooding, as they tend to be a common growing spot for bacteria. You can keep whatever’s in the boxes as you dry it out, just throw the boxes themselves away.

*If you have electrical items in your basement, such as lamps, TVs, stereos, or computer equipment, do not touch it or attempt to move it with your other items. Even once you’ve turned off the electricity in the area, you should let electrical items dry where they are or even bring in an electrician to take a look at them rather than try to handle them on your own.

*If your basement is carpeted, you should tear up the carpeting and remove it quickly. Carpets absorb moisture and prevent the ground beneath from properly drying. In some cases, flooded carpet can be salvaged, but you should be careful with it. Talking to a specialist in carpet cleaning may be a good idea, as improperly cleaned carpet can allow mildew or mold to grow and spread around the basement.

*As long as it’s dry outside, open up all the doors and windows in the basement to allow for faster drying. You can also put fans all around the basements to let the air circulate better or buy or rent a dehumidifier, which will improve drying time. Regardless of methods, set aside at least a few days for things to dry out.

*As things dry out, spend a lot of time cleaning the basement. In particular, be sure to wash the walls and floors to get rid of any dirt that the water carried with it. During this process, you should also get rid of insulation or drywall that was damaged in the flooding. You can also purchase anti-mildew spray to help stop any potential mold from spreading.

*Assuming that you have purchased flood insurance, you should make a call to your insurance provider as soon as possible. This way you can determine how much the insurance company will be able to help you and whether there are specific steps you need to take to make your claim successfully, such as taking pictures of the damage.

Depending on the severity of the flooding in your basement, it may be a good idea to get a professional’s help with the clean-up process. In particular, you should bring in help if you’re certain that mold has developed in the wake of the flooding.

In addition to helping you do a thorough cleaning job, professionals can also help you figure out what caused the flooding in the first place if you’re not sure. They can work with you to waterproof your basement from future floods or to determine what caused wrong if you’ve waterproofed previously. There are many different types of specialists you could talk to in this situation — from a plumber to a disaster restoration professional. You’ll want to pick and choose the most relevant people for your specific scenario. Your insurance provider may also have specialists they prefer working with and can even reimburse you for, so it’s worth checking in with them.

Is Basement Flooding Covered By Homeowners Insurance?

Your homeowners insurance may or may not cover flooding in your basement depending on many variables. For example, flooding caused by a burst pipe might be covered, while flooding caused by rainfall may not. You’ll want to call and discuss this directly with your provider, and also, if possible, carefully read your insurance contract and be aware of what is and isn’t covered before anything happens. Depending on where you live and what your insurance coverage is like, you may need to purchase separate flood insurance.