What To Do If Your Basement Floods

Basement floods are one of the most frustrating, costly and dangerous situations for homeowners. No matter the season, a basement can flood any any time.  Whether it’s a frozen pipe, heavy rainfall, overwhelmed sewer lines or a failed sump pumps, water can end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.. Other plumbing fixtures that can leak anywhere in your home are: toilets, boilers or water heaters, blocked or improperly installed gutters and downspouts, or the absence or failure of sump pumps.

So what do you do if your basement floods? We’ve put together a few things to consider if you do experience this unfortunate event.

Before doing anything, think safety first!

Electrical Hazard

• Virtually all basements have electrical fixtures and outlets that could electrify water; it does not take much water at all to conduct an electrical charge.
• If you can shutoff your electricity, do so, but don’t risk wading through the water to do it. If you are unsure about your safety, call an electrician to assist you with shutting your electricity off.

Contaminated Water

• Depending on where you live, or how your home’s plumbing is set up, flood water may also have contaminants in it that may be unsafe for bodily contact.
• In the event of heavy rain, sometimes storm drains or sewer drains (or both!) could send sewage runoff into your basement.

What To Do Next

Remove the Water As Soon As Possible

• If you have a floor drain, make sure it’s completely clear and unclogged to get rid of standing water. Have your drain checked after a flood event too.  Sometimes floods can cause a drain to clog.
• If you have a sump pump, check to make sure it’s functioning properly so it can begin pumping water out.  It’s always a good idea to make sure you have a sump pump backup system.

Begin to Move Air and Dehumidify the Basement

• Mold can start growing within 24 hours; the faster you can dry out the basement the faster you reduce mold growth.
• Point fans at porous objects like drywall and other spots that have become saturated with water.
• Run a dehumidifier to absorb the water in the air of your basement.

After big rainfalls, the root of floods could be plumbing related. Our certified technicians provide Same Day Service 7 Days a week for the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Northern VA area. If you are in need of basement flood repair for a broken pipe, a clogged drain or sewer line, a leaky water heater or boiler, or if you need a sump pump installed or repaired, give us a call today!