If your basement has flooded, there are some important things to know before you go anywhere near the water. When in doubt, do not enter the flooded area until a qualified professional tells you it is safe. First and foremost, consider your family’s health and safety, because entering a wet basement can be hazardous. Before you go in, keep the following in mind:
Sewage can carry bacteria and transmit disease, and the floodwater in your basement may have come from the sanitary sewer and contain raw sewage. Wear protective items such as gloves, safety glasses and a face mask, and be sure to wash thoroughly after any contact with sewage or with items it has touched.
Cleaning may expose you to a wide range of contaminants, both from the cleaning agents you use and from anything carried in by the floodwaters. When you reach the cleaning stage, ventilate well and limit your contact and exposure as much as you can.
While this is not common, under the right conditions a flood can weaken walls or even ceiling structures. If there is any concern that structural integrity has been compromised, or you simply cannot tell, leave the area and call in the experts.
When your basement is wet, there is a real risk of electrical shock. Only if you are certain you can do it safely, turn off your home’s power at the main breaker.
Protect yourself against gas leaks. If you smell gas, leave the house right away, then contact your service provider.
Depending on the nature of the flooding, there are a few more things to consider. If the flooding is due to a burst water supply pipe in your home, and you are safely able to do so, shut off the main incoming water valve, as this can help minimize the damage. You will probably know this is the case because the water will be clean and likely coming down through the house from an upper level. For the future, make note of where this shut-off is and keep access to it clear. If the flooding is due to a sewage backup, or you are not sure, do not flush the toilet or run a washing machine, dishwasher or any other fixture with a drain, since this is likely to make the flooding worse.
Start with preparation. Wear protective clothing, including disposable overalls, protective eyewear, gloves and a face mask. Beware of electrical equipment and outlets, and shut off the electrical supply if possible. Make sure any appliances are completely dry before plugging them in again. Provide as much ventilation as you can, opening windows if the weather permits and running fans to help things dry out. Next, salvage your belongings and remove as much as you can from the flood zone. The sooner items are removed, the more likely you are to avoid rot, mildew, mould and warping. Keep an itemized list of what you pull out, organized by what can be salvaged and what needs to be discarded, as your insurer may be involved in this process. Remove rugs, or roll them back out of the wet area. Any flooring that could have absorbed water needs to be removed, including wood flooring, underlayers and so on. Completely dry and disinfect fixed-in-place features such as the foundation floor, walls and furnace. Eliminate excess water using old rags, towels and similar materials; a wet/dry vacuum can also help. Carpets and furniture that can be salvaged may need to be professionally cleaned and dried. Some minor items may be suitable for regular garbage pickup, but in all likelihood a trip or two to the dump will be required.
They will advise you on standard clean-up procedures, contractors to call and claim procedures. In general: • Take plenty of photos and document any items that have been damaged or need to be replaced. Before you head out and start buying anything new, make sure you are familiar with your insurer’s coverage, and keep all receipts for emergency work, purchases and repairs. • Depending on your policy, you may be covered for an event like this. Even with coverage, the homeowner is responsible for the clean-up, repairs and replacement of lost property. • An insurer is more likely to look favourably on homeowners who undertake work themselves to reduce the likelihood of future flooding. Repeat claims with no effort to reduce future risk may be enough for an insurer to drop that form of coverage. • Report the backup to your municipality. Letting the City know that flooding has occurred, and documenting flood locations, helps municipal staff decide whether any work is needed on the municipal infrastructure. This data is also used to track basement floods and to direct inspections and maintenance on that infrastructure.
Before you start the rehabilitation, think about what you want to do with the basement going forward. Are you ready to commit to refinishing it the same way? Do you want to do any extra work to protect against flooding down the road? It is worth reading up on “How to Protect Your Home from Basement Flooding” before you begin any construction in the affected area. Consider fully tearing out exterior framing and drywall if the damage is bad enough. One of the problems with finished basements is that cracks can develop in the floor or walls without you even knowing. You may have just been flooded by a sewage backup, but cracks forming in the foundation floor or walls could mean another flood is around the corner. Renovation time is the best time, and possibly the only time, to find these sorts of problems and fix them. Consider: • Storing items in watertight containers and keeping things raised off the floor. • Changing or upgrading your foundation drainage system. • Adding a sump pump and/or a backwater sanitary valve.
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