What to Do When Your Basement Floods

5 Steps If Your Basement Floods Every homeowner would be horrified to find a flooded basement. 

Most people don't plan for this unwanted surprise, but when it happens, you need to act quickly to limit the damage.

If you currently have water in your basement, use extreme caution and follow the first step before proceeding. Then follow these steps to find the source of the flood, get the water out of the basement and start cleaning.

Dry and clean the basement under water

1. Make sure your basement is safe to enter

The first thing you should do in the event of a basement flood is to assess the situation. If the water is high enough to contact the outlet or electrical wires, there is a risk of electric shock.

Check for these signs to determine if it is safe to enter a flooded basement:

• 1. Water depth: If the water is more than 2 inches deep through the basement, do not enter the water - you may be shocked. Call a professional plumber or water damage expert to pump out the water as quickly as possible. If you can access the main electrical service panel without going into the basement in the event of a flood, turn off the power to the basement. If you cannot access the panel, contact an electrician to disconnect the power.

• 2. Submerged Appliances: If the water level in your basement is near a gas appliance, such as a furnace or water heater, call the gas company and ask them to turn off the gas. The pilot light can go out and gas can leak into your basement. If you smell gas, leave the building immediately. When you are satisfied that a basement flood is not an electrical or gas hazard, or you have resolved these issues, you can proceed to the next steps.

2. Find the Source of Basement Flooding

Try to find out why your basement is flooding and stop it. Even if you can't stop the flood, you'll save valuable time by notifying the plumber or contractor of the source of the water as soon as they arrive.

How to find the source of the flood? Explore the area and try to find how the water is getting in. These entry points are the most common culprits for basement flooding:

• Floor drain: This usually means a problem with the sump pump, home or yard drain. system or that the city's sewer lines have a backup system. You should find a plumber and take him to the site. If the plumber determines that the problem was caused by the city sewer, the city should be called and reported.

• Appliances or plumbing: If water gushes from pipes connected to a washing machine or water heater, immediately turn off the water to the broken equipment. If you suspect a broken pipe and can't determine which light is broken, shut off the water to the entire house. 

• Floor or windows: This is likely caused by heavy rain and/or water levels that are too high. You may have to wait for the weather to change before the water stops rising. When it is safe to enter the water depth, shut off the power to the basement if the water continues to rise, then begin moving your belongings to higher ground.

• Walls or foundation: Water flows in these areas are also usually caused by a storm. Leaky basement walls and cracks in the wall or floor usually occur after a heavy rain, but they can indicate a more serious underlying problem in your home.

• Once you've located the source of the flood and possibly stopped the leak, you can store items in the flooded basement. Once you've identified the source of the flood and stopped the leak if possible, try to save items from water damage.

3. Begin salvaging your belongings

When it is safe to enter the area, quickly move through your flooded basement and remove all electronics. This is an important safety measure to follow, especially if the water continues to rise. Paul Abrams of Roto-Rooter also recommends, "Wear gloves and rubber boots when entering a flooded basement."

Then start picking up your stuff. You can't move everything out of the basement, so prioritize the most important things to keep.

Focus on items that are most expensive or difficult to replace, including:

1. Important documents: securities, documents, passports and financial documents.

2. Family mementos: heirlooms, photo albums, books and souvenirs. 3. Electronics: TVs, desktops, laptops and other portable electronics.

4. Get Water Out of the Basement

The sooner you dry out a wet basement, the better your chance of preventing mold from flooding and other long-term damage to your home. Start by removing standing water. If it is relatively low, you can work with mops and buckets.

If standing water is several inches deep, you have several options:

• Submersible pump: These can be rented or purchased at hardware and pool stores.
•  Wet/Dry Vacuum: This may be a better option if you already have one or if only a small portion of your basement has deep standing water. They can also be rented from your local hardware or hardware store.
• Your basement is still wet after the standing water is gone. Here are some tips to speed up drying:
•  Open basement windows (weather permitting) to allow moisture to escape.
• Place fans throughout the basement and turn them on to speed up evaporation. Place them so that they blow out of the basement or through the windows or toward the stairs.
• Place heaters around the basement to allow the remaining water to evaporate more quickly. This results in a humid environment, so it is best to combine this approach with the use of a dehumidifier.

5. Start your post-flood cleanup

Removing all destroyed items is the main goal of the basement flood cleanup. Do not attempt to store:

• Electronics damaged in water.
• Fabrics that are not washed or dried within 48 hours.
• Plaster floor, carpets submerged in flood water.
• Wet upholstered furniture unless professionally cleaned.

If you're in doubt about an item's safety, call a professional to make sure whatever you're saving isn't at risk of mold or bacterial growth. If you plan to file home insurance, take pictures to document your water damage and lost property.

Tips for Preventing Mold After a Flood

1. Use hot water and bleach or a disinfectant cleaner to thoroughly clean walls and floors. Let dry and then repeat. 

2. Clean furniture or clothing exposed to stormwater with warm, soapy water.

3. Open windows and doors to allow wet items to dry. Use fans and dehumidifiers to speed up the process. 

4. Wipe down any exposed areas with a mold repellant or schedule a restoration professional to visit your home to prevent mold growth.