7 ways to stop basement flooding — and what to do if it does

Floods can be one of the most damaging events any homeowner can experience. Especially when it comes to basement flooding.

Water in your home can destroy personal belongings, damage or weaken the structure of your house, and leave behind lingering health concerns related to standing water, mold, and mildew.

According to insurance industry research, 98% of basements will experience water damage at some point in their lifetimes, and the average insurance claim for water damage is about $10,000.

To avoid costly damage, here are seven ways to stop basement flooding.

How does basement flooding happen?

There are a few main causes that lead to basements flooding including weather, groundwater leakage, and damage to plumbing systems.

In heavy rain or melting snow, water can pool around your house and flow inside through doors, bulkheads, windows, or cracks in the foundation.

Second, groundwater can leak through your foundation, rising up from the basement floor or seeping through the walls.

Finally, floods can be caused by backups in your plumbing system or breaks and leaks in your water lines. If the power goes out and your sump pump stops working, it can lead to major basement flooding.

How to prevent basement flooding

The best way to deal with a flood is to stop it from ever happening. The best way to keep your house dry is by ensuring your drainage is clean and clear, your plumbing is well-maintained, and your basement is water-tight and able to eliminate water on its own.

Before your basement floods, there are simple steps to take to mitigate potential damage and prevent it from ever happening.

1. Keep your sump pump (plus its battery backup) and other drains in working order

A sump pump is the best line of defense against basement flooding, no matter where it came from. These pumps sit in the lowest part of the basement and pump any water out.

The sump pump should have a backup power source so that it will continue working even in a power outage. You should inspect this regularly.

Also, keep the drains clean and clear and the pump itself well-maintained so that it won’t fail when you need it most.

2. Send water away from your house

If water flows away from your house, the risk of flooding drops drastically. The easiest way to do this is to properly grade your yard. Create a gentle slope away from the foundation, and ensure that there is nowhere against the house for water to pool.

Gutters and downspouts are another key component of diverting water away from your home. Keep them clean and clear so that water can flow, and extend the downspouts far away from the house.

Finally, check the basement window wells around your home. These should be raised at least a few inches above ground level and should be dug down well below the window itself.

3. Inspect your foundation for cracks

Cracks in the foundation are the easiest way for water to enter your basement. Hairline cracks are a normal result of a house settling, but anything bigger than that can be a potential entry point for water.

Small cracks are easy to fill yourself using concrete and masonry caulk, but larger cracks may require the assistance of a professional.

4. Stay on top of sewer, septic, and plumbing maintenance

Water doesn’t always enter basements from outside—neglecting your plumbing is one of the easiest ways to get water in the basement.

Have your sewer lines inspected and cleaned every 18-24 months to prevent backups. Septic tanks should be pumped out every couple of years.

Always insulate and/or winterize your pipes as needed so that they don’t freeze when cold weather rolls in.

5. Keep an eye on water-use appliances and their connections

A particularly vulnerable area of your plumbing system comes into play with water-use appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators. These lines can fail and leak, particularly if they’re not properly installed.

Lore McKenna, Corporate Communications Director, BSH Home Appliances Corporation, says that consumers should “follow the installation instructions provided with the appliance at purchase. Proper installation and maintenance of hoses is also important. They should never be installed with tight bends or at angles that put stress on the hose.”

You can also invest in appliances with automatic leak detectors and shutoffs. Many appliances, including the Benchmark and 800 series from Bosch, feature sensors that can detect water leaks in your appliance, stop the flow of water to the appliance, and even pump water out of the appliance before it spills over.

Through their apps, like Bosch’s Home Connect and LG’s ThinQ, many of these smart appliances will notify you of the leak so you can address it immediately.

Not all appliances come equipped with these monitors, but aftermarket sensors, smart water leak detectors, and shutoffs like Moen’s Flo are available as well, both for appliances and your main water lines.

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6. Check with your insurance company

Not all homeowners insurance is created equal, and not all insurance covers all kinds of floods and water damage—finding out you don’t have coverage isn’t ideal when you are staring at three inches of water in your basement.

Check with your insurance company to ensure that floods and water damage are covered, and if you need to buy additional flood coverage for certain situations.

7. Store your belongings up off the floor

If your basement does flood, anything that’s left on the floor is going to sit in water, ruining, until you can get the water pumped out. So, keeping your belongings, particularly anything fragile or electronic, off the floor is key.

Store items on shelves, desks, or risers to keep them safe. These CX storage shelves are heavy duty and will lift your precious belongings off the ground and away from potential water damage.

If you have a basement office, never put your computer or laptop on the floor—keep it on top of the desk, or at least on a shelf. Same goes for video games and controllers in a basement rec room. If you have appliances in your basement, have those installed on risers.

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What to do if your basement floods?

Despite taking preventative measures to stop basement flooding, the odds of escaping a flood are not in your favor. 98% of homes will experience water damage at some point.

When the inevitable happens, here are a few things to do:

• Don’t step in water. The standing water contains harmful bacteria. Plus if it touches exposed wiring, you could electrocute yourself.

• Turn off your home’s power and water. If you can’t do so without standing in water, it’s time to call al electrician or your local power company.

• Track where the water is coming from. If its coming from an appliance, then you may able to just shut off the water going to it.

• Call your insurpance company. They will have a list of approved companies who specialize in in basement flooding cleanup. These companies will assess the damage and recommend next steps. They’ll also pump out water and be able to remove any residual moisture. Plus they can apply sanitizers to kill any growing bacteria or mold.

• Bring in a plumber. If the flood was caused by a plumbing leak, then they will make the repairs and assess other potential problems.

• Bring in a basement waterproofing specialist. If the flood was caused by water entering your home, they’ll determine what vulnerabilities your home has and how to mitigate them.