Safety comes before cleanup in a basement, because water and the electrical panel often share the space. Then the source decides almost everything else: who you call, how you clean up, and which part of your insurance, if any, applies.
Water seeping through wall or floor cracks, around window wells, or up through the floor after heavy rain or snowmelt.
The pit is full and the pump isn't running, often during a storm or a power outage.
Dirty water coming up through a floor drain, toilet or shower. Treat it as sewage: keep people and pets out and wear gloves and boots.
A burst pipe, water heater or washing machine. Shut the main valve and see the burst pipe or water heater guide.
If several feet of water came in from outside and the ground is still saturated, FEMA advises pumping a basement out gradually, about a third of the water a day. Pumping it all at once can let the pressure of the wet soil outside crack or push in the walls.
The basement is finished (drywall, carpet, insulation), the water came from a sewer or floor drain, it's more than an inch or two deep across the floor, or areas are still damp after two days.
Clean water, an inch or less, in an unfinished basement. Wet/dry vacuum, fans and a dehumidifier, and keep the space dry for a week while you watch for a musty smell.
Damp spots on bare concrete after heavy rain that dry within a day. Look at gutters, downspouts and the slope of the ground around the house.
A flooded basement can fall under three different kinds of coverage. A burst pipe or failed water heater is commonly treated as sudden water damage. Sump pump failures and sewer backups are often covered only with a separate water backup endorsement. Surface water and groundwater from outside are flood, which standard homeowners policies exclude and flood insurance covers. Photograph the source and the damage, keep receipts, and call your insurer early. They make the coverage decision.
Not sure what you're dealing with? Ask the advisor and describe the water and where it came from.
It depends on the source. A plumber for a pipe, water heater or washing machine; a plumber or sump pump installer for a failed sump pump; and a water damage company if the basement is finished, the water is sewage, or it's more than an inch or two deep. If the power or gas may be affected, call your utility first.
Not until you know the power is off or the water can't reach outlets, cords, appliances or the panel. If you can't switch off the basement's breaker without standing in water, stay out and call your utility or an electrician.
The common causes are lost power (an outage, a tripped GFCI or breaker), a stuck float switch, a frozen or clogged discharge line, or a worn-out pump. A battery backup and a high-water alarm cover the power-outage case.
It depends on where the water came from. Sudden plumbing failures are commonly covered; sump pump failures and sewer backups often need a water backup endorsement; and flooding from outside water needs flood insurance. Your insurer decides.
Talk to an independent water damage specialist. No obligation, and they can tell you if you need them at all.
(888) 845-1163