Stepping into a basement and finding it full of water can naturally cause a bit of panic. But don’t stress too much, we’re here to talk you through how to deal with a flooded basement so that if the situation arises, you can get it sorted quickly and with minimal damage.
What Problems Can A Flooded Basement Cause?
One of the reasons it’s so important to deal with a flooded basement quickly is the potential damage it can cause.
Along with ruining any items you have stored down there, flooding can lead to harmful mould growth (which can develop in as little as 24 hours), pose electrical hazards, and even weaken your property’s foundations. Plus, if the water is contaminated, it could create health risks.
Without fast damage control, a flooded basement can soon become an expensive issue needing extensive repairs.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of A Flooded Basement?
Being able to identify the cause of a flood quickly plays a big role in mitigating further damage, it means you can resolve the issue at the source.
In our time handling plumbing and drainage emergencies, our team has found that there are a few common culprits that can cause a flooded basement. These include:
- Heavy rainfall, especially during storms
- Cracked or collapsed drains
- Loose pipe connections
- Severe blocked drains (often caused by pests, unsuitable waste disposal, or a buildup of fat, oil, or grease)
- Overflowing rivers or high water levels in coastal areas
What To Do If Your Basement Floods
So, what should you do if you find a flood in the basement?
Put Safety First
Whether it’s your home or a commercial building, if you realise there’s a flood in your property’s basement, it’s essential to always focus on safety ahead of anything else. It’s best not to step down into the flooded basement as the water could be contaminated and may pose the risk of electric shock. If you must enter the basement, make sure you turn off the electrical power supply first.
Wear protective clothing before entering if you suspect any water contamination. And if you notice any smell of gas, evacuate the building as soon as possible.
Call An Emergency Plumber
Speed is vital when dealing with any kind of flood, so call an emergency plumber as soon as you can. When you call the team at Drain 365, we’ll be with you ASAP — our specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide assistance when you need it most.
Identify The Cause Of The Flood
If you can, try to find the cause of the water build-up, but only if it’s safe to do so. If it’s an internal issue, such as a blocked drain, turn off the property’s water supply.
How Do You Clean A Flooded Basement?
We recommend getting a professional to dry out and clean your flooded basement, but you may also wish to take steps yourself, just make sure you wear protective clothing.
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Remove The Water
First, it’s important to remove as much water as possible from the area to minimise water damage, mould, and bacterial growth. Our drainage experts can use state-of-the-art pumps to remove large amounts of water quickly.
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Move Any Damaged Items
If the water has affected your belongings and furnishings (such as boxes of Christmas decorations, carpet, furniture, and electricals), move them upstairs away from the flood.
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Let It Dry
You’ll need to let the basement space dry out as much as possible for a few days before you can start cleaning it. If possible, open any doors and windows to let air circulate and set up a dehumidifier to remove lingering moisture from the room.
If you have any storage cupboards in the basement, open the doors to help the interior dry, too.
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Clean The Walls And Floor
Basement flood water can often be dirty, so it may leave mud and grime behind. To get rid of it, use household cleaning products. If there’s a lot of dirt, you might find it helpful to hose the space down with clean water, you can then use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner to remove excess water.
How To Disinfect A Flooded Basement
An important note on disinfecting a flooded basement — strong bleach products can release harmful fumes in enclosed spaces. So if your basement doesn’t have any windows, try to ventilate the area as well as possible, and dilute any bleach cleaning solutions to reduce the strength.
How To Protect Your Basement From Flooding
Unfortunately, some flood risks are difficult to mitigate, especially if you live near a river or close to the sea. However, there are still some actions you can take to protect your basement from other flood-causing culprits and reduce the resulting damage.
- Install non-return valves — these are hinged in one direction, so if flood water moves backwards, into your system, the valves lock, creating a waterproof barrier. Non-return valves are one of the most effective flood prevention measures in residential and commercial properties.
- Don’t put unflushables down the toilet or food waste down the sink. Stubborn blockages can lead to flooding, and these are often formed by a collection of materials that don’t break down easily. For this reason, be careful not to flush nappies and wet wipes down the toilet, and avoid washing food waste and coffee grounds down the sink.
- Consider a drain survey to identify any drainage issues before they become significant problems. CCTV drain survey London explores your entire drainage system to spot any cracks, pests, tree roots, and other issues that could progress, eventually leading to a basement flood.
Once a problem has been identified, the team at Drain 365 can resolve it before it has a chance to worsen.
Call Drain 365 For Fast, Effective Help With A Flooded Basement
A flooded basement is never a good thing, but with the Drain 365 team just a phone call away, you can feel confident knowing we’ll get the issue sorted rapidly to minimise damage.
We cover a range of locations, including London, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire, and our emergency plumbers will aim to be with you in an hour.
Call us on 07825 228 829 for 24/7 emergency flood response, or fill out our contact form if you have any questions.