WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BASEMENT FLOODS

THE RIGHT STEPS CAN SAVE YOU AND YOUR HOME

- ETHAN O'DONNELL

In addition to being a headache, a flooded basement requires immediate attention in order to prevent further damage. And as long as you take a few precautions, you can tackle this job. So take a deep breath and follow these steps for managing water removal and quickly restoring your basement to its preflood condition.

ENSURE THE BASEMENT IS SAFE

You have a mess on your hands and of course are anxious to start cleaning up. However, before you plunge into the flooded basement with waders on and a bucket in hand, you must determine whether the location is safe to enter.

Avoid stepping into the basement if more than 2 in. of water is present throughout the entire space. Electricity and gas may pose safety issues. It is possible that the standing water has been electrified by wiring and appliances. Issues can also arise with gas-powered appliances such as furnaces or water heaters. The pilot lights may have gone out and gas may be flowing freely into the basement.

If you can access your electrical panel without getting wet, immediately turn off the power to the problem area. If not, call an electrician. Whenever ou smell natural gas, immediately step outside and contact your gas provider to shut it off before proceeding.

IDENTIFY THE CAUSE AND REMOVE THE WATER

After you have determined that it is safe to begin working, focus on identifying the water source, stopping it if possible and removing the accumulated water.

Water should be shut off to broken pipes, or sump pumps should be repaired if they are faulty or floor drains are clogged. Then, using a wet vac, pump or squeegee, remove all the standing water. If the basement holds so much standing water that you must shut off the power to the whole house, you can rent a gas-powered pump at a rental store or home center to quickly remove the water.