Tips for dealing with flooding damage to a basement

Discovering that your basement is full of water can really ruin your day. Many people don’t visit this part of the house too often and so discovering something untoward can occur after a lot of damage has already been done. Some homeowners use this part of the building for keeping freezers or washing machines while others just use it for storage. Going down the stairs to be greeted by floating wine bottles can come as a shock, but your first priority has to be your own safety. Do not go near the water if there is any chance that it could be unsafe; for example that possibility of electrical shock. It won’t be long though before your thoughts will need to turn to the cause of this flooding and the amount of damage that has been done.

So Why is Your Basement Full of Water?

If there has been a lot of rain then the reason might appear obvious, but you will still need to do a bit of investigation. Blocked drains or burst pipes are common explanations and so is water coming from elsewhere in the house. If you live in an area with a high water table then this can rise so high that it seeps right through the bottom of your basement; even concrete will not stop this from occurring if there is enough water. Water coming in through cracks in the walls can also lead to a large accumulation of the wet stuff given enough time.

The amount of water in your basement can often be a good indication of the cause; especially if you visit this part of the house on a reasonably regular basis. The sudden appearance of water damage suggests something like a burst pipe or if it has been raining heavily then you should consider the possibility of a blocked drain that is causing water to overflow into your basement. It is often wisest to call out the professionals and get them to assess and remedy the situation.

Unfortunately most basements have at least some risk of becoming flooded due to their location. Most will not have walls that are waterproofed and if you live in an area that is prone to flooding then you will have to work hard to prevent this type of occurrence. For many people though, the cause will be something that can be remedied and need never trouble them again.