Guide: water damage
Water in the basement? Deal with the power before you step in.
Do not walk into standing water until you know the power is off. Then find out whether it is clean water (a supply line, the water heater) or sewage and storm water, stop the source if you can, and call a water damage restoration company to pump it out and dry the basement. A sewer backup also needs a plumber to clear the line.
Connects you to an independent restoration company. Home Service Lab does not perform the work and does not set the price.
What to do first
- Stay out of the water until the power is safe. Ready.gov says not to touch electrical equipment that is wet or while you are standing in water, and to turn off the electricity only if it is safe to do so. If the panel is in the flooded basement, call your utility instead.
- Work out what kind of water it is. Clear water from a pipe or water heater is the least dangerous. Water that smells of sewage, came up through a floor drain, or came in from outside is contaminated.
- Stop the source if you can. Close the main water valve for a burst pipe or failed water heater. Stop running water in the house if the floor drain is backing up.
- Photograph it before anything moves. The water line on the walls, the contents, and the source if you can see it.
- Call your insurer and a restoration company. Most policies expect you to stop further damage, so mitigation does not have to wait for the adjuster.
Do not clean up sewage or flood water yourself. It carries bacteria, and porous materials it has soaked into usually have to come out.
Sewer backup: two jobs, two trades.
If water came up through a floor drain, toilet or shower on the lowest level, the sewer line is likely blocked or overwhelmed. A plumber clears or camera-inspects the line. A restoration company removes the water and treats everything it touched. Ask the plumber about a backwater valve while they are there.
The drying window.
The EPA says drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours prevents mold growth in most cases. Basements are cool and damp to begin with, so carpet, drywall and anything stored in cardboard need to come up or out quickly.
Before you call
Have these ready before you call.
The company on the other end will want to book someone to come out and look at the basement. These are the things that make that first call quick.
- Your address and ZIP code.The call is routed by ZIP, and the company needs the address to book an inspection.
- What happened, and roughly when.Where the water or smoke came from and how long it has been there decide what kind of job it is.
- Whether the source is stopped.If water is still coming in, say so first. That changes what they send and how soon.
- Your insurer and policy number, if you have them.Not required to book, but it saves a second call once the claim is open.
- When someone can be at the house.Nothing gets measured or quoted until a person has seen it, so have a time in mind.
Questions
Common questions
Who do I call when my basement floods?
A water damage restoration company, to pump out the water and dry the space. If it came up through a drain, also call a plumber to clear the sewer line. If the water reached the electrical panel, call your utility before anyone goes down.
Can I use a shop vac on a flooded basement?
On a small amount of clean water, once the power is off, yes. For sewage, storm water or anything deeper than a puddle, leave it to a restoration company with pumps, protective equipment and drying gear.
Being straight with you
We connect the call. We do not do the work.
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Local pages
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Related
Other guides and trades.
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