Who To Call When Basement Floods

Do you know who to call when the basement floods? Find out in this guide.

Water problems can be very frustrating and annoying.

More so, when it’s in your basement, right? When such occurs, knowing who to call saves you from a lot of stress, time, and the cost involved in fixing the problem.

It is oftentimes difficult for you as a homeowner to tell or locate where the water problem originates from, right?

Who To Call For Flooded Basement

Identifying basement water problems and fixing them as soon as possible saves you from a lot of unforeseen and unplanned expenditures.

In such situations, your best bet is to take immediate and appropriate action.

Poor drainage around the foundation, heavy rain pour, cracks, and holes in the foundation walls are said to be the main causes and sources of water leakage.

A faulty sump pump may lead to flooding, when such occurs, it results in an offensive smell of damp, decay, and mold.

Water leakage can damage stored belongings or property in the basement, the flooring system, and drywall.

What Causes Water in Basement

It is of utmost importance you try to identify some of the liable symptoms and causes or sources of water in the basement to effectively tackle/solve the problem when the need arises.

Below are some possible sources or causes of water in the basement;

• Interior Leakage

You must check for inside leakages first when trying to identify the root cause of water in the basement.

Water in the basement could come from the shower, running toilet, sink, washing machine, water heater, dishwasher, a bad pipe, and numerous other interior sources.

Interior water leakage is the cause of water in your basement if the water in your basement is sourced from walls beneath a bathroom, toilet, kitchen, or a bad pipe in your building.

• Ineffective Grading

The poor grading system is a sure way of letting water from the ground or rainwater into the basement. A good grading system ensures that the ground around the foundation, slopes away from the house or building.

The wrong direction of flow of drainage system is a sure way of letting water or directing the water into the basement.

• Downspouts

A downspout is a vertical pipe used to drain rainwater from the rooftops. The essence of downspouts is to direct rainwater into gutters and away from the walls and foundation of your house.

In a situation whereby downspouts are not available, or not functioning as expected, rainwater is therefore directed towards the foundation of your house which in most cases will eventually cause drainage of water into the basement.

• Foundation Crack

This is a sure source of water in the basement. If there are cracks in the underlying base or support system of a building, rest assured, water will find its way into your basement.

Sometimes, the water itself is the cause of the cracks due to the poor drainage system in the soil.

• Broken Sump Pump

The essence of sump pumps is to remove the accumulation of liquid (such as water) from the sump pit.

Oftentimes, most houses that do not have drainage systems or sump pumps, experience water problems especially underground.

Many of such houses do not have subsurface drainage systems resulting in problems of a clogged pipe, broken connection, and/or a broken sump pump.

• Condensation

When warm, moist air comes in contact with cool basement floors or walls, it results in basement condensation.

Moisture is formed when the walls cool off the warm air. Oftentimes, the water in the basement is formed as a result of the condensation encouraging the growth of mold and water damage to property.

Why it’s a Bad Idea to Fix Water in Basement via DIY Techniques

The need for professional assistance trumps any desire to cut down on water removal and treatment cost.

Sometimes, homeowners derive satisfaction by getting things done themselves. It’s a bad idea to fix your basement water problems yourself due to several reasons.

First off, a flooded basement tends to affect other areas as water damage gets to the drywall, as well as through flooring. You may not have the required expertise to fix the problem.

What more? Highly contaminated water is likely to end up in the basement through toilet overflows and sewage backups as well as storms.

With water standing in your basement for upwards of 24 hours, the situation becomes worse as your basement becomes a breeding ground for mildew and mold.

These are clear reasons why it’s best to have a pro come over to fix the problem instead of seeking to get things done on your own.

Who to Call To For Basement Flooding Problems

Deciding who to call for help when you have water in your basement can be frustrating and depends, to a large extent, on the symptoms noticed at the initial stage.

Early detection of water in your basement saves you time and finances.

When it comes to fixing a flooded basement, it’s important to know that solution doesn’t lie with a single professional.

If you’ve had such problems before, you’ve likely sought the services of certified water damage restoration contractors. Such services handle all forms of basement moisture issues.

While certified water damage restoration companies have their vital roles in resolving basement water issues, you’ll also need to call your insurance company. What more?

The services of a licensed electrician are vital to the repair process as certain electrical appliances and fittings found in the basement may be compromised.

Water In Basement Who To Call Near Me

Listed below are a general description of contractors and the duties performed by each one of them, so you can be able to decide who and when to call depending on the symptoms you have checked.

• Plumber

A plumber is someone you call when you notice a leak from a pipe, toilet, kitchen sink, faucet, washing machine, water heater, or water pipes.

Symptoms could be an obvious leakage from a water pipe, a small pool of water near the washing machine or water heater, or directly below where the water pipe is leaking.

The general services of a plumber include installation of faucets and fixtures, maintenance and unclogging drains, fixing a leaking or burst pipe, a dripping faucet, and running toilet and repairs of water supply and or drainage systems in a home.

• Restoration Contractor

A restoration contractor is someone you call when you notice the growth of mold, as a result of a water leak. An airborne mold produced by plants, fungi, and some microorganisms can lead to very serious health issues.

A restoration contractor is someone responsible for addressing damages done to houses or buildings as a result of fire, storm, flood, or debris.

They use special equipment when it comes to making water damages less severe or less dangerous like dehumidifiers to drain and dry water in the basement or air movers to dry water quickly in the basement.

Moisture and water can lead to the damp drywall, and insulation and wetness of wood which enhances the growth of mold. A restoration contractor tidies mold and locates hidden structural damage.

They are also conversant with insurance claims processes.

• Water-Proofer

A water-proofer is someone you call when you notice there is a leakage and you are not sure where the water is coming out from.

They are responsible for evaluating the situation and recommending the best possible solution to tackle and address the situation.

A water-proofer is someone who can find and fix leakages from the foundation, drainage, sump pump, and basements using a dehumidifier to dry the water.

They primarily keep water out of the basement, fix leakages resulting from cracks, install sump pumps and drainage systems. Most importantly, they install downspout extensions to help control water around foundations and encapsulate cracks.

A water-proofer is responsible for addressing issues such as;

• Cracks in the basement walls and/or floor
• Exterior drainage
• Window leaks
• Sump pump problems
• Excess humidity

The above mentioned is very vital information regarding who you can call in for help when next you want to fix water problems in your basement.

If you need help addressing the issues of water in your basement, the services of a plumber, a water-proofer, or a restoration contractor are what you should consider.

. Call a Certified Water Damage Restoration Company

As discussed above, one of the three steps to take requires calling water damage professionals.

These are trained to handle all forms of water problems in basements as well as other areas of the home. So, what exactly do water damage restoration contractors do?

Multiple actions or solutions are ranging from water removal services, drying & dehumidification, repairs and restoration, temporary protection, cleaning & sanitizing, as well as preventive treatments.

Let’s briefly explain each of these services as follows;

• Water Removal Services

Having assessed the level or extent of water in the basement, part of the fixes offered by certified water damage restoration contractors include removing the water.

Here, industrial-grade pumps and vacuums are deployed for the water removal process.

Such equipment speeds up the process as well as the drying time, thus significantly decreasing the chance of mold growth.

• Drying & Dehumidification

Water removal is only one part of fixing water presence in the basement.

Having removed water, it might seem that the basement is completely free of moisture. These skilled technicians understand this and use specialized equipment like moisture meters.

This enables them to detect water trapped in hard-to-reach areas and construction components. Tools like air movers and industrial dehumidifiers help expel such moisture.

• Repairs & Restoration

As part of actions to fix water damage, a contractor will carry out a wide range of actions that could include carpet replacements, drywall replacement as well as fixes to foundation plus an external remodeling where necessary.

• Temporary Protection

There are situations where the water collecting in the basement will need to be stalled temporarily as work goes on in fixing the problem.

Temporary protective actions include the use of tarps or boarding-up during flooding or storms. Under significant flooding conditions, you may be required to temporarily move out until the problem is fixed.

• Cleaning & Sanitizing

One of the vital actions taken to fix the water in a basement is having the affected area cleaned and sanitized.

We earlier said that flooded basements are likely to become contaminated. Apart from cleaning and disinfection, odors will need to be neutralized.

Certified water damage restoration contractors are well equipped to do whatever needs to be done in fixing the problem.

• Preventive Treatments

Fixing water problems in the basement isn’t complete without implementing preventive treatments.

Preventive treatments are aimed at forestalling future flooding in a basement in addition to preventing a pest infestation due to humid conditions.

• Contact your Insurance Company

Asides from a certified water damage restoration company, you also need to contact your insurance company. This is because most insurance policies for homes cover water damage in basements.

However, there are exceptions to the causes of flooding. Natural flooding mostly won’t qualify for coverage.

You’ll need to be fully prepared with key details about the flooding situation with a focus on the cause, time it occurred, as well as the extent of the damage.

This will be followed by an inspection to ascertain the extent of the problem.

There are times when picking the right water damage restoration company might prove difficult. Under such situations, you’ll need to seek recommendations from your insurance company agent.

• Have an Electrician Perform Basic Inspection of your Flooded Basement

Another technician to call for your basement water issues is an electrician. The need for an electrician is quite obvious. Before any work begins in the basement, all power supplies will have to be turned off to resolve any electrocution hazards it might pose.

A licensed electrician will help identify water-damaged wiring, damaged electrical lines connecting to the basement, as well as compromised appliances such as the HVAC, etc. The expertise derived from an electrician does a lot to fix or prevent any electrical issues that may arise.

Conclusion

Water in the basement is one problem a lot of homeowners have to deal with. This is caused by many factors including flooding.

Now, the basement area is one vulnerable spot in your home most affected by moisture problems. When water is noticed in the basement, urgent action will have to be taken.

Now, most homeowners aren’t skilled or do not have the required expertise in dealing with moisture issues. As such, professional help is required to fix the problem.

Now you know who to call when faced with water in the basement.

We’ve listed the right persons to contact to resolve the problem in the best way possible. This makes it quite obvious that DIY strategies shouldn’t be adopted.

So, are you having water problems in your basement? Are you wondering who to call for help?

We hope this guide helped.