Basement Flooding

Wondering what to do if your basement floods? Cowboy Certified's water damage experts can help you understand the first steps in fixing your basement problems.

A flooded basement can happen at any time. Basement flooding can often be attributed to inadequate drainage around your basement walls, heavy storms, a faulty sump pump or appliance failure. Many basements have floor drains to keep the space from flooding with water and damaging the floor and walls. Dirt and debris often get caught in these drains, preventing water from draining out. Some homes also have sump pumps, which work to move water away from the house and into the nearest storm drain. If a sump pump fails and can’t move the water, you could experience flooding in your basement. After a basement flood, the most important thing to do is to remove the water immediately and dry out your basement completely.

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Call Your Electrician

If you do experience a basement flood and need it cleaned up, remember to put safety first. It is possible to begin the water removal process yourself, once you are sure that it’s safe to venture into the basement. A flooded basement can pose an electrical hazard to you and your family members, so one of the first calls you should make should be to your electrician, especially if you can’t access your circuit breaker. If your circuit breaker is not located in the basement, shut off power and gas immediately. Any electronics or electrical appliances in contact with the floodwater are unsafe. An electrician can help you assess whether it’s safe to enter the basement and begin the water removal process.

Call Your Insurance Company

There are two simple precautions everyone should take to prevent basement floods regular sump pump maintenance, and keeping gutters and downspouts clear. Homeowners are responsible for these tasks themselves, but renters should check with landlords to ensure that this maintenance is completed regularly. Just like homeowners insurance, renters insurance often requires special flood insurance coverage that is added to your regular policy, so you’ll want to be sure you’re covered before you need it. Cowboy certified will work directly with your insurance company throughout the flood cleanup process to help your claim go as smoothly as possible.

If It Happens Again

If you notice that your basement is repeatedly flooding, despite your repair and maintenance efforts to prevent them, perhaps you have overlooked something. While faulty plumbing is usually the culprit for large basement flooding messes, when the plumbing checks out, the location of the house is usually to blame. Many properties sit on topsoil that becomes saturated with water. As underground water levels rise and fall, you will notice that basement flooding comes and goes. To prevent further problems, use this Cowboy certified sump pump installation guide to resolve the issue for good. Sump pump installation is a big job really should only be undertaken by a professional, licensed plumber or basement waterproofing specialist. We don’t recommend that do-it-yourselfers try to tackle this repair on their own.