My Basement Flooded — Now What?

1/3/2021 (Permalink)

Flooded basement in Johnstown, PA

My Basement Flooded — Now What?

All homeowners in Johnstown, PA should be prepared to deal with a water emergency such as a basement flood. Homeowners' insurance coverage may pay for repairs, and you can work with a water cleanup and restoration service. However, draining a flooded basement can be a do-it-yourself job if the proper steps are taken.

1. Turn Off the Electricity to Your Home Never enter a flooded area if the electricity is on. If your electrical box is inaccessible due to standing water, you will need to call an electrician.

2. Turn Off the Source of the Water

If a pipe or sewer line has burst, shut off the water main to your home. If the basement flood is caused by a storm, wait until the rainfall has stopped before you begin removing the water.

3. Connect the Pump to a Hose

You will need a submersible pump to efficiently remove large amounts of standing water from your home. Drain the water out and away from your home by connecting the pump to a garden hose.

4. Connect the Pump to a Power Source

With the electricity to your home turned off, a generator can be used to power the pump. Running a heavy-duty extension cord between a neighbor’s home and yours is another option for powering the pump.

5. Remove the Water

Once powered, the pump will draw the water out of the flooded basement. As the water level subsides, you may need to reposition the hose to make sure you remove all the water or use a wet/dry vac to squeegee the remaining water off the floor.
Water damage is one of the most common problems a homeowner may face, so all homeowners should be prepared to quickly address such an emergency. Knowing the steps to limit the damage a basement flood can cause will help preserve one of your most important investments — your home.