Basement Flooding

Looking For Flood Cleanup Contractors? Click Here To Get Started

If you’re in an area where the ground is damp or you live nearby to a standing body of water or river, then your property is at risk for basement flooding. If you’re reading this then chances are you already spotted a pool of water in your basement and probably aren’t sure what to do about it. Flooding damage in the basement can be a tricky problem with a lot of risks, but with a few tips you’ll make it out with minimal damage and avoid a health risk.

First things first, you need to determine where the flooding is coming from. It may be coming through the basement walls from the outside, it may be coming from inside the basement walls with a leaky or broken pipe, but either way you need to find where it’s coming from and do your best to prevent it from flooding the basement even more.

For leaky pipes you may need to find the shutoff valve or get an emergency plumber on the phone right away to have them shut it off before the flood damage gets worse. If your basement is being flooded from the outside because of a heavy rain storm, fast melting snow or rising water levels nearby then things get a little more complicated. Your best course of action is to call a basement waterproofing specialist and have them figure out the solution.

When basement flood damage is caused from a sewer line you are especially at risk for health issues with mold, mildew, bacteria and even contaminated air. If this is the case get a professional on the phone ASAP. Flooded basement cleanup can be a bit pricy depending on your area but putting yours and your family’s health at risk is just not worth the money saved by not cleaning it, or trying to clean it yourself.

Make sure that the water wont approach any electrical outlets, plugged in appliances or anything else that involves electricity. As we all know water conducts electricity extremely well so you need to make sure everything is unplugged. Electric shock is a major problem with basement flooding so be careful and if water has already reached live electricity it might be wise to shut down the circuit breaker. Always proceed with caution and if you aren’t sure what to do call a professional.

Now it’s time to remove any items that may be in harm’s way as a result of the flooded basement. Anything that isn’t water resistant, could be damaged, stained, mildewed or corroded needs to be moved immediately. Usually its best to just get everything up off the floor to prevent bacteria build up from the flood damage. If your basement gets flooded often its wise to put any appliances that aren’t easily moved up on blocks to prevent the bottoms from being rusted out.

Last, be sure to let your insurance company know that you have a flooded basement and find out what they can do about it. Some insurance companies cover flooding in their policies but often times you need an additional rider, so if you haven’t had basement flooding issues already now it’s a great time to add this on. Some companies will pay for cleanup, or at least part of the cost because long term it’s cheaper than some of the damage floods cause.

Bottom line if you are dealing with the mess and frustration of a flooded basement, don’t cut corners. Clean it up the best you can and call a professional. They are used to dealing with basement flooding problems and they know exactly how to fix it.