How To Deal With a Flooded Basement

A flooded basement can be a nightmare, especially if water has damaged your personal items. However, the problem doesn’t stop there. Excess water in your basement may contain bacteria or viruses, putting your family at risk. Plus, basement flooding can damage your foundation walls, compromising your home’s structural integrity.
Learn what to do if you experience a flood in your basement, what caused this issue in the first place, and how you can prevent it from happening again.
Why Is My Basement Flooding?
Homeowners in New Haven, CT, are no strangers to flooding, with our city often experiencing heavy rainfall and storms throughout the year. Several bodies of water are nearby, including Long Island Sound and Mill River, increasing the risk of floods along low-lying areas. These threats can lead to floodwater entering homes and damaging basements.
Other causes of flooded basements include:
- Foundation cracks
- Ineffective gutters
- Hydrostatic pressure
- Defective sump pumps
- Malfunctioning appliances
What To Do If Your Basement Floods
Here are some steps you can take if floodwater enters your basement:
- Remove the water: Once floodwater gets into your basement, it’s likely to stay there until you take action. A sump pump can pump water out of your basement and move it to a drainage area outside your home. However, you may need a professional water removal service for more extensive flooding.
- Dry your basement: Air humidity often increases after a flood, especially in an enclosed space like a basement. Investing in a good dehumidifier can manage high humidity levels and improve air quality.
- Clean your basement walls: Floodwater may carry dangerous bacteria and viruses that put your family’s health at risk. After removing water from your basement, you’ll want to clean walls and other surfaces with soap and warm water.
- Repair foundation cracks: If floodwater has caused cracks to develop in your foundation, you might need a foundation repair expert to fix the damage. A professional can use wall anchors and other solutions to restore your foundation to its original condition and preserve your home’s value.
How To Avoid a Flooded Basement
You can prevent your basement from flooding in the future by working with a basement waterproofing specialist like Groundworks. Serving New Haven and the surrounding area, we provide custom-engineered solutions that keep this part of your home safe and dry.
Some of our options for preventing a flooded basement include:
- Sump pumps: We can install a sump pump in a sump pit at the lowest point of your basement floor. When water accumulates in the pit, the pump activates and moves it away from your home, keeping your basement dry.
- Dehumidifiers: While a dehumidifier won’t remove water from your basement, it can help to manage humidity in this area. Excess moisture often leads to mold, wood rot, and pests.
- Interior drains: An interior drain is a drain system that fits around the perimeter of your basement. It routes floodwater to a sump pump, preventing it from accumulating in your home.
- Grated drainage pipes: One of the most common ways water can enter your basement is through an external door. A grated drainage pipe solves this problem by causing water that enters through a door to fall underneath the basement floor. A sump pump then moves this water away from your home.
- Egress Windows: An egress window provides you with a way to escape your basement in the event of an emergency. However, you’ll want to install a window with proper waterproofing to prevent water from entering your home.
How Groundworks Can Help Waterproof Your Basement in New Haven County
Basement flooding might damage your personal items, jeopardize your foundation, and even compromise your family’s health. Groundworks offers a wide range of waterproofing solutions that create a drier and safer living environment, providing ongoing peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more.
FAQs
Basement floods can be caused by many sources. Internal sources include burst plumbing pipes, leaky appliances, and faulty sump pumps. Heavy rain, poor foundation drainage, and foundation damage are also potential causes. To find the root of the problem, contact your local Groundworks company for a free inspection and basement waterproofing estimate.
While a dehumidifier can help reduce moisture after flooding, it’s not a solution for flooding issues. A proper waterproofing system is necessary for severe water problems.
Many insurance policies do not cover flood damage, such as preventable instances part of regular home maintenance. However, there are certain circumstances where your damage may be covered. It’s best to check with your insurance agent to go over exactly what your policy covers.