How to Avoid A Flooded Basement

Owning a home feels great but dealing with a flooded basement doesn’t. Unfortunately, 98% of basements are likely to experience water damage once in their lifetime.

The average insurance for water damage is about $10,000. But it’s better to take preventive measures than to claim for the damage.

Water in your home’s basement can destroy your belongings or even weaken the structure of your house. In addition, it can leave behind a variety of health concerns related to mold, mildew, and standing water.

Whether or not flood basements are common in your area, it’s always good to take the right measures to avoid complications.

What Causes Basement Flooding

Before discussing the steps to avoid a flooded basement, let’s understand what causes basement flooding:

#1 Your Home’s Location

If there is a small pond in your basement, it means your home’s location is the culprit. You will regularly have flooded basements if you live in flooding-prone areas, at the bottom of the hill, or in a low-grading lot.

#2 Poor Weatherproofing

Poor weatherproofing can also increase the risk of basement flooding. How? Well, water can rise above the basement level in areas with hurricanes, heavy downpours, or large amounts of snow melting.

When it happens, water seeps into the hairline cracks, causing a flooded basement. While constructing foundations, walls, and floors, a sealant should be applied to avoid leakage.

The best time for waterproofing upgrades is before rainstorms. In addition, install a basement waterproofing system with proper drainage and a sump pump. Also, you should hire a professional for the work.

#3 Improper Drainage System

A drain tile is built under the basement floor to collect underground water. But if it degrades, your basement might experience regular flooding.

#4 Clogged Gutter

A properly functioning gutter is required to manage draining rainwater. But the water might not drain safely if the gutter gets clogged by leaves, sticks, or debris.

Overflowing gutters is a real problem, which can cause water to fall down the sides of your home. If it happens, the water might pool and leak into the basement. So, you should frequently clean the gutter or install gutter guards to decrease clogs.

#5 Plumbing Leaks

If your home is not in a flooding zone, you could still experience a flooded basement due to plumbing emergencies.

Common plumbing emergencies include burst pipes, blockage of sanitary sewer, or blockage in the sewer system. If there is a plumbing leak, you will see a large amount of water on the floor. Also, you will notice funky and dirty smells from clogged drains.

When it happens, you should contact experts to immediately fix the plumbing problem.

Steps to Avoid a Flooded Basement

Taking the right preventive measures can stop the water from entering your basement. It will save you time, money, and headaches in the future.

Scroll down to learn how to prevent basement flooding with these simple tips:

#1 Grade Your Lawn Correctly

 

The risk of basement flooding increases if your yard is around your home. Even if the yard is away, but it slopes towards your home instead of away, you can encounter basement flooding.

Why? Because after it rains, the water will ideally slope towards your home and ruin the basement. You should fix the slope so the water can run away from your walls.

Landscaping solutions like diverting rain spouts, installing a rain garden, using heavier mulch, or installing a green roof, can decrease the risk of flooding.

#2 Leave Gap Between Mulch and Siding

If you are using mulch in flower beds around your home, try to maintain a gap of 6 inches between landscaping and the outside walls.

It is essentially true with siding and other building materials because they are not as durable as a brick against water.

#3 Extend Downspouts and Turn Them Away From Home

Try extending the downspouts and turning them away from home instead of connecting them to the footer drain. Downspouts ending right above the ground of your home can also be risky.

But when you direct it towards the lawn area, you are assured that the water will not flow back towards the outside of your walls.

#4 Clean Your Gutters in Spring and Fall

If you don’t regularly clean up your gutter, it can put your home at risk for flooding. During heavy rain, problems caused by blocked drains increase, which forces the water to dump directly below onto the foundation around your home.

The clogs can cause the rainfall to violently hit the ground, which will pound the foundation with heavy precipitation. Keeping the gutter clean ensures that the water from rain and storms can flow freely. Also, the water won’t pool against your home.

#5 Install the Sump Pump

Sump pumps can offer better protection against basement flooding. While you need to put little money into prevention, you can save yourself from expensive restorations.

After installing an automatic sump pump in the basement, you can prevent basement flooding. A powerful sump pump can effectively suck any water out of the basement. Then it redirects the water elsewhere.

How to Clean Up After Flood

After the water has entered the basement, you should quickly act up to decrease the damage. If left untreated, mold can start growing in 24 to 48 hours. If it happens, you would have to take out your belongings and dry them out as soon as possible.

In addition, call an electrician or a professional flood cleanup company to clear a large amount of water from your basement. Before walking into the basement, disconnect the electricity and avoid touching anything electrical.

Here’s how you can deal with the basement in your water:

#1 Do Not Enter the Flooded Basement

Basement floods not only damages your property but it can also pose a serious risk to you. So, if you notice basement flooding, do not go further. Instead, give a call to an electrician and professional flood cleanup company to fix the issue.

While the professionals arrive, you can shut off the main power in your home. But if it is located in the basement, let the experts deal with it. Avoid using any electric appliances as they can be dangerous.

#2 Photograph the Aftermath

If you want to claim water damage, photograph the aftermath. Take out your phone to click pictures and record videos. The pictures and videos can be used to get compensation for water damage.

#3 Remove Water

If the basement has only a few inches of standing water, you can easily deal with it using a wet vacuum cleaner. You can also use towels to wipe the water to prevent mold from growing.

#4 Dry It Out

It’s important to dry the basement after cleaning the water to remove moisture. You can use dehumidifiers or fans to easily move the air around. This way, you can discourage the growth of mildew and mold.

Your dehumidifier should be placed six to eight inches away from the walls for the best result. Regularly clean and wash the filters to make sure they work at their optimum speed.

#5 Scrub the Flooring

If your basement flooring is made of vinyl tile, linoleum, or any other hard surface, you can scrub it with chlorine bleach and water solution. Don’t forget to wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear during the process.

#6 Examine and Clean Gutters, Drains, and Downspouts

After scrubbing the basement flooring, you need to check the basement steps and drains. Thoroughly clean the gutters, downspouts, and drains to make sure they do not clog during heavy rainfall. If necessary, use a plunger for cleaning.

#7 Put Important Papers to Freezer

If any important paper has been damped in the basement flood, immediately put it inside a freezer. It will stop the mildew growth and stop the papers from deteriorating further.

#8 Prevent Future Flood

Once you have cleaned up after a flood, you need to take measures to prevent future floods.

For this, you should try to figure out the cause of the flood: Is there a crack in your foundation? Does your sump pump need replacement, or has something else caused the flood problem? Reach out to a professional to understand how to upgrade your basement.

Conclusion

Basement floods are always annoying and take a lot of work to get cleared. But you can save yourself from the trouble by knowing how to prevent future flooding.

If the water has already entered your basement, follow the clean-up steps to remove it from the basement.