Flooded basement and flood water cleanup

What this service covers

When water enters a basement, crawl space or ground floor from outside the plumbing system, the job is bigger than drying a wet floor. This service covers pumping out standing water, removing materials that absorbed it, cleaning and sanitizing the space, drying the structure and, if needed, rebuilding.

Why basements flood

Basements sit below grade, so they take on water first. Typical causes include heavy rain overwhelming the soil, a failed or overloaded sump pump, clogged gutters and downspouts that dump water near the foundation, cracks in foundation walls or floors, and window wells that fill up. A sudden thaw after a snowy stretch can do the same.

Sometimes the water is rising from a floor drain, which points to a sewer problem rather than ground water. If the water smells foul, read the sewage backup guidance instead.

Safety first

Basement floods combine water and electricity, and that deserves respect.

• Do not step into standing water if the water level is above outlets or if you cannot see the panel or cords.
• Have the electric company or an electrician disconnect service if the panel is wet.
• Do not use gas appliances that sit in or near the water.
• Wear boots and gloves when moving anything out, and keep children and pets upstairs.
• Photograph the water line on the walls before anything is changed.

How we approach a flooded basement

Our general method is laid out on the process page. In a flood, the first priority is removing the standing water in a controlled way. Once the level is down, we remove saturated carpet, pad and other porous materials and look at what is left, including the lower part of walls where water wicks upward.

Drying follows, with equipment placed to move air and pull moisture from the space, and regular readings to track progress. Because flood water carries contaminants, we clean and sanitize the surfaces that remain. Last, we talk through repairs, which can range from replacing a section of drywall to rebuilding a finished room.

What usually gets saved and what usually goes

Flood water is treated as contaminated, so the rule of thumb is simple. Porous materials that soaked it up are often removed, while solid materials that can be cleaned and fully dried are often kept.

• Usually removed: wall-to-wall carpet and pad, insulation, soaked drywall, particleboard furniture and cardboard storage boxes.
• Often cleaned and kept: concrete, framing lumber, tile, solid wood furniture, metal shelving and many plastic items.
• Case by case: laminate and engineered flooring, upholstered pieces, area rugs and appliances.

It helps to sort boxes of stored items by priority, such as photos, papers and keepsakes. Tell us which ones matter most so we can handle them with care and talk through options before anything is discarded.

Reducing the chance of a repeat

After the cleanup we can point out issues we noticed on the job. Often it comes down to grading, gutters, the sump pump and its battery backup, or sealing gaps where water entered. You may also want to ask your insurance agent whether water backup coverage is available for your policy.

Insurance

Flood coverage is one of the most misunderstood parts of home insurance, and we cannot tell you what your policy includes. What we can do is document the loss with photos and moisture readings, work with your insurance company and bill the insurer directly where the claim allows. See the insurance page.

Where we work

Our office is in St. Charles and we respond to basement floods across St. Charles County and St. Louis County, including Wentzville, Lake Saint Louis and Cottleville. The full list is on our areas page.

Basement taking on water? Our line is open 24/7 for emergencies.