What To Do When Your Basement Floods

Waking up to find your basement under several inches of murky water is the kind of soggy surprise no homeowner wants. Whether it’s from heavy rains, a burst pipe, or an overzealous washing machine, a flooded basement can quickly turn into a serious headache. Water damage, ruined belongings, and potential mold growth are just a few of the fun issues that come calling when your basement decides to morph into an indoor swimming pool.  

Don’t just grab a bucket and mop – that standing water is the Trojan horse for all sorts of problems if not handled properly. From safety hazards to long-term structural damage, you’ll want to spring into action quickly with the right game plan. Leaving a basement flood unattended is basically rolling out the red carpet for moisture gremlins to take over your home.

But don’t panic yet! With some quick thinking and the right knowledge, that unexpected basement pool party can be handled like a pro. We’ll cover all the need-to-know tips for safely eliminating standing water, disinfecting the area, preventing mold, and reducing future flood risks. Your formerly dry basement oasis will be back in business before you know it!

Safety Precautions 

Before rushing in to wrestle with that basement water situation, it’s crucial to keep safety at the top of your mind. Flooding brings some serious potential hazards into play that you don’t want to underestimate. 

First thing’s first – turn off the power supply to your basement if it’s safe to access the breaker box or disconnect switch. With standing water lurking around, you definitely don’t want to be dealing with any live electrical circuits. One zap from a flooded outlet or submerged appliance could turn your damp drama into a full-blown horror flick real quick.

Speaking of which, if the water level is higher than a few inches, it’s best to avoid entering the basement altogether until you can get it pumped out somewhat. Wading through contaminated blackwater carries all kinds of unsavory risks like sewage bacteria and hidden obstacles you could trip over. Not worth potentially getting toxified just to retrieve grandma’s china set.

Protective gear is an absolute must when tackling any flooding situation. At the very least, you’ll want rubber boots to keep your tootsies dry and durable gloves to avoid skin contact with funky water. If the flooding seems particularly nasty, you may even want to gear up with eye protection and a respirator mask. Better to go full hazmat than leave yourself vulnerable!

Finally, make sure to get some serious ventilation going by opening windows and running fans. Stagnant moisture is a mold-lover’s paradise, so you’ll want to start drying out the space as soon as possible to prevent a fuzzy takeover. Dealing with water damage is one thing – mold damage is a whole extra level of headache.

With those key safety concerns covered, you can feel a bit more confident about diving into your basement’s aquatic adventure. Just don’t get overzealous and pull a Aquaman – this is one situation where it definitely pays to be cautious!

Identifying the Source of the Flood

Once you’ve taken the necessary safety precautions, it’s time to play detective and find the culprit behind your basement’s impromptu swimming pool. Trying to remedy the situation without knowing the root cause is like bailing water from a sinking ship without patching the leak first. You’ll just end up treading water endlessly.

The Usual Suspects

For minor flooding incidents, the source may be glaringly obvious. Like if your washing machine has become a rogue fire hydrant or you spot a burst pipe freely spraying water around. But many basement floods can be trickier to trace, especially if the water is coming in from multiple points.

The Inspection

Start your investigation by doing a thorough perimeter check around the entire basement. Keep your eyes peeled for any visible cracks in the walls or floors where moisture could be seeping through. Pay extra attention to corners and window wells, as those are common entry points for water intrusion during heavy rains.

If you’ve got a sump pump installed, make sure to give that system a good inspection too. A sump pump is supposed to automatically kick on and discharge water away from your home’s foundation when it accumulates. But if the pump is malfunctioning, broken, or the discharge pipe is blocked, it can quickly lead to a flooded basement.

The Backup Situation 

For slab foundation homes, one potential culprit could be water backing up through the home’s plumbing system. Flushing a toilet and seeing the water level rise like a horrifying science experiment is a surefire sign of a sewer backup situation. No plunger is going to fix that nasty issue!

Call the Pros

If you’ve thoroughly scoured the basement and still can’t pinpoint the specific leak source, it may be time to call in professional backup. Certified waterproofers and foundation repair experts have a lot more specialized tools and know-how for diagnosing tricky subterranean moisture intrusions.

Don’t Ignore the Leak

Whatever you do, don’t just start throwing down towels and assume the problem is fixed. Ignoring the root cause behind your basement’s aquatic adventure is basically giving a standing invitation for mold and mildew to move on in. Tracking down and eliminating that water’s point of entry is crucial for avoiding repeat flooding fiascos.

Water Removal

With the source of the basement flooding identified, it’s time to dive into the wet work of actually removing all that uninvited water from your home. Leaving it to linger is just asking for mold to start its icky invasion, not to mention potential structural damage to your foundation over time.

For minor floods with just a few inches of water buildup, you may be able to tackle removal using some good old-fashioned manual labor. Grab a trusty wet/dry shop vacuum and start slurping up that standing water like a pro tackling a tough job. The bigger the tank capacity, the fewer trips you’ll have to make dumping it outside.

Just be warned – those household vacuums can only ingurgitate so much water before gasping their last breath. If you’ve got more than a couple inches of flooding or the area is tough to access with a traditional vacuum, you’ll likely need to level up your water removal game.  

The Heavy Duty Approach

For more significant flooding situations, it’s going to take some heavy-duty equipment to get that water drained efficiently. The pros rely on powerful truck-mounted pumps and industrial water vacuums that can make quick work of even the most excessive basement pools.

Most water damage restoration companies offer comprehensive flood removal services using this type of high-capacity equipment. They’ll come in with a virtual aquatic assault vehicle and have that lower level bone dry again in no time.

Of course, all that high-powered pump action doesn’t come for free. Hiring a professional water extraction crew can cost anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on the severity of the flooding and square footage involved. But when you’re staring down a literal lake in your basement, it may be worth paying up for the proper tools and manpower to avoid doing even more damage with inadequate DIY efforts.

The Extraction Accessories

Whether you’re going the DIY shop vacuum route or calling in the professionals, having some key water removal accessories on hand can make the process a lot smoother:

• Pump(s) for continually moving water out of the area as you go
• Hose extensions to reach all areas of the flooded basement  
• Wet vacs with ample hose length and tank capacity
• Fans and dehumidifiers for drying out the area after extraction

You’ll also want to ensure you have a direct exit route for discharging all that water, whether it’s through a basement window well or out to a floor drain. The last thing you need is to create an indoor water cycle by just pumping it all right back inside!

Once you’ve got the basement cleared of any standing water, it’s time to quickly move on to the drying out and cleaning phase. The sooner you can get air circulating and dehumidifiers running, the better your chances of minimizing any long-term moisture damage.

Just be warned – even after the visible water is gone, moisture can still be lurking within wall cavities, subfloors, and other enclosed areas. Completely drying out a basement after flooding is a meticulous, multi-day process at minimum. Skipping ahead too quickly is just asking for nasty mold and wood rot issues down the road.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

With the basement finally drained and starting to dry out, it’s time to tackle one of the grossest parts of flood cleanup – disinfecting everything that water touched. Unless you want to be breathing in mold spores and potentially harmful bacteria, you can’t just let that moisture residue linger.

Start by removing any debris, soggy belongings, and porous materials that were saturated by the flooding. Drywall, insulation, carpeting, and fabrics that stayed soaked for too long are basically contaminated write-offs at this point. Toss ’em out with the trash to avoid spreading mold spores everywhere.

For any hard, non-porous surfaces like concrete floors and walls, you’ll want to thoroughly clean and disinfect using a heavy-duty antimicrobial solution. Avoid using bleach, which can actually contribute to mold growth over time. Instead, look for EPA-approved disinfectants specifically designed to kill bacteria, viruses, and mold.

The Scrub-a-Dub Routine

Cleaning and disinfecting a flooded basement is basically a intense power-washing affair. You’ll want to vigorously scrub every single surface with a stiff brush and cleaner to remove any silt, grime, or contamination left behind by that water party. 

Don’t forget about often-overlooked areas like window wells, floor drains, and behind appliances where nasty moisture can hide out. If you had any sewage backup, you’ll definitely want to double down on disinfecting those areas to avoid spreading harmful bacteria.

For porous surfaces that got saturated like wood floors or drywall, you may need to take extra disinfecting measures. Specialized antimicrobial sealants can sometimes be applied to encapsulate any lingering mold spores and prevent future growth. Just be warned that severe material damage often warrants full replacement rather than restoration attempts.

Handling Salvageable Belongings

Any non-porous items and belongings that can be thoroughly dried, cleaned, and disinfected may still have a chance at survival. Plastic storage bins, ceramic items, and solid wood furniture can usually be salvaged if properly decontaminated.

Start by giving everything an initial wipe down and air drying. You may need to utilize heaters, dehumidifiers, or even rent speciality drying equipment to fully extract all moisture. Once dried, all surfaces should get a vigorous cleaning with detergent and disinfecting solution before being deemed safe for indoor use again.

For soft, porous items like clothing, bedding, and stuffed furniture, your best bet is running them through a full sanitizing wash cycle using hot water and antimicrobial detergent. Add some bleach or pine oil cleaner for extra disinfecting power if needed. Anything too damaged should be tossed rather than risking mold issues.

The Mold Patrol

Even after your best cleaning and disinfecting efforts, mold may still try to make an unwanted appearance in the days and weeks after a basement flood. Keep a watchful eye out for any fuzzy growth and treat it immediately with a concentrated mold removal solution.

Severe or recurring mold issues likely mean you’ll need to enlist professional mold remediation services to properly contain the problem. Trying to handle a major mold situation on your own is just asking for those spores to spread further and create long-term air quality issues.

Preventing Future Floods

Once you’ve successfully decontaminated and dried out your basement after a flood, the next crucial step is fortifying your defenses against any future water invasions. Because trust me, you don’t want to relive that soggy nightmare anytime soon!

If the flooding was caused by something like a burst pipe or appliance failure, getting those issues repaired should be priority number one. But for moisture intrusion from external sources, you’ll likely need to look at taking some bigger waterproofing measures.

Seal Those Leaks

One of the most common culprits behind basement leaks and floods are cracks in the foundation walls or floors. Even the tiniest fissures can allow water to slowly seep in over time until you’ve got a full-blown indoor pool party on your hands.

Having those cracks professionally sealed using specialized hydraulic cement or epoxy injections can effectively eliminate those moisture pathways. You may also want to have a water-resistant coating like rubberized sealant applied to any problematic basement window wells or exterior entry points.

Install (or Repair) a Sump Pump

For homes with a tendency to accumulate excessive moisture around the foundation, a reliable sump pump system is absolutely essential. This is a pit in your basement floor with a pump that automatically kicks on to discharge any water buildup away from your home’s foundation before it can flood the basement.

If you don’t already have a sump pump, getting one installed by a professional is a wise investment against future water woes. And if yours seems to be malfunctioning or getting up there in age, it’s better to repair or replace it now rather than risking a pump failure during the next big storm.

Improve Exterior Drainage

Sometimes the best way to stop basement leaks is to get that water redirected before it ever has a chance to reach your foundation. Having proper drainage solutions like downspout extensions, graded soil slopes, and curtain drains installed around your home’s exterior can work wonders.

The goal is to have any surface runoff or groundwater effectively channeled away from the basement, rather than pooling up against those foundation walls. A good drainage system combined with waterproofing measures can make your basement virtually flood-proof.

Go for Full Waterproofing

Of course, if you really want to batten down the hatches against any and all moisture intrusion, you may need to invest in comprehensive basement waterproofing. This usually involves having specialized interior and/or exterior waterproofing membranes and drainage systems installed by professionals.

It’s not a small undertaking, but going the full waterproofing route can provide maximum protection and peace of mind for preventing any more surprise basement pool parties. Once you’ve had to deal with a major flood, the cost of waterproofing measures starts to seem pretty reasonable!

When to Seek Professional Help

Even for the most ardent DIY-ers out there, some basement flooding situations are just too big of a mess to tackle solo. If you find yourself feeling in over your head, there’s no shame in waving the white flag and calling in the professionals for backup.

Signs it’s time to enlist the experts:

• Flooding is severe with over 12 inches of standing water
• You suspect contamination from sewage or chemical runoff  
• Visible structural damage to your foundation or framing
• Mold growth is widespread or keeps returning after cleaning
• You lack proper equipment for water extraction and drying

The benefits of working with certified water damage restoration pros are numerous – from commercial-grade equipment to technical expertise and even assistance dealing with insurance claims. Why risk making an even bigger watery mess when the cavalry is just a phone call away?

Sometimes it’s worth swallowing that pride and letting the flood remediation experts take over. Unless you were planning on installing an indoor basement pool anyway?

Stay High and Dry with Fox Plumbing

There you have it, Seattle homeowners – your complete game plan for conquering basement floods and moisture infiltration. From safety precautions to water removal, cleaning, and preventative measures, you’re now fully armed to defend your home against soggy attacks.  

But why go it alone on such a daunting task? For true waterproofing peace of mind, put your trust in the experts at Fox Plumbing & Sewer. We’ll ensure your basement stays high and dry with top-notch sump pump installations, foundation crack repairs, drainage solutions and more.

Reclaim your dry oasis today! Call Fox Plumbing at (206) 654-4986 to schedule an appointment.