What Should You Do About a Flooded Finished Basement?
Stay out of the water until you know the power is off, stop the source if it is a pipe, heater or washer, and photograph the damage from a safe spot. Then call a restoration crew for the pump-out and drying, and a plumber if a part has failed. Do not run gas equipment indoors, and do not drain the room all at once after a storm.
Make the Space Safe First
Water and electricity are the biggest danger in a flooded basement. Look from the top of the stairs before anyone goes down, and treat any water that reaches outlets or equipment as live.
If the breaker panel is dry and you can reach it without crossing water, turn off the basement circuits. If not, stay out and ask the utility or an electrician to disconnect the power.
- Do not wade in water that touches outlets or plugged-in gear
- Never flip a breaker while standing in water
- Leave if you smell gas, and call the gas company from outside
- Treat storm water and drain water as contaminated
- Keep children and pets upstairs
Burst Pipe Services That Fit This Question
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What to Do When a Finished Basement Floods
Check power from upstairs, stop the source, take photos, then call crews for pumping and drying.
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Finished Basement Flood Cleanup
Carpet, drywall and trim soak fast below grade. Crews pump out, strip wet finishes and dry the rest.
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Drying Out a Flooded Finished Basement
Pumps take the visible water. Dehumidifiers and air movers draw out what sits in walls, slab and framing.
Stop the Source and Record the Damage
If a pipe, water heater or washer is the cause, close the main water valve. If the cause is rain, groundwater or a backup, there may be nothing to shut off, and the pump-out is the next step.
Take photos and video of the waterline, the walls, the floor and any ruined belongings before anything moves. Insurers usually ask for that record, and the pictures cost nothing.
- Main valve closed for supply or heater leaks
- Photos from the stairs or a dry spot
- A note of the time you found the water
- A list of belongings that were wet
- Receipts saved for any emergency purchases
Bring in Crews: Pump-Out, Then Dry
Call (888) 603-7319 for Finished Basement Flood Pros as soon as the space is safe. A crew pumps out the water, removes carpet pad and drywall that cannot dry and sets dehumidifiers and air movers.
After a storm, the crew lowers the water in stages. Wet soil outside presses on the foundation, and emptying the room too quickly can crack a wall or lift the slab. A plumber or pump technician deals with the source.
- Restoration crew: pump-out, tear-out, sanitizing, drying
- Plumber: failed pipe, heater, drain or sewer line
- Pump technician or waterproofing contractor: sump and drain tile
- Electrician: any panel or wiring that sat in water
- Insurer: report the loss and ask about coverage
What Not to Do
A few well-meant moves make the loss worse. Gasoline-powered pumps and generators produce carbon monoxide and belong outdoors, far from any open window.
Do not mix bleach with ammonia, do not run a furnace that sat in water and do not close walls or lay new flooring over a damp structure.
- No gas-powered equipment indoors
- No mixing of cleaning chemicals
- No furnace or central air after flooding of the equipment
- No painting or sealing damp walls
- No throwing out items before photos
Get the basement water out now (888) 603-7319
More Burst Pipe Questions
What Should You Do About a Flooded Finished Basement: More Answers
Who should I call first, a plumber or a cleanup crew?
If a pipe or heater is still running, close the main valve, then call both. The plumber fixes the failed part and the crew handles water, removal and drying.
Is it okay to use a wet vacuum on the water?
For a small clean spill on a safe circuit, yes. Deep water, storm water or sewage needs a crew, because the volume and the contamination are beyond a household vacuum.
What can I save from a flooded basement?
Hard, non-porous items like metal, glass and some plastics can be cleaned. Soaked pad, drywall, insulation and upholstered furniture touched by dirty water are usually discarded.
How soon does the drying need to start?
As soon as the water is out. Mold can begin on wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, so crews start dehumidifiers and air movers the same visit.
Water damage gets worse by the hour. Call now to get finished basement flood cleanup started, 24/7.