A flooded basement may be caused by a number of factors some of which are preventable and can be eliminated before a flood occurs. Water damage from flooding can lead to mold, rotting wood and an entire basement including your furniture being destroyed.
Basement floods can be caused by both water entering from outside the home due to heavy rain but it can also come from within the home from a broken water line or other internal source. Your chance of flooding is greater if you live in a flood zone or due to the downward grading of your property.
Reasons For Basement Flooding
Let’s look at what causes basement floods from both inside and outside the home and how to prevent them.
Inside The Home
Many of the reasons for basement flooding begin in the actual basement itself due to the presence of water pipes, water heater, etc. Floods may also come from another floor with a water supply that gravity will conveniently trickle downstairs.
Here are some other big ones:
Water-using appliances: A washing machine, dishwasher, sinks, toilets, fridge ice maker and bidet are on the list of potential problem areas. Each have a water supply that can break and flood a home. Consider installing a safety hose that shuts off water supply when a water surge is detected to prevent against flooding.
Water heater: Common problems with a water heater include a broken water pipe (I experienced that once) or a rotted water heater bottom that simply disintegrates leading to water pouring on the floor (I had that too). Check your water heater from time to time for rusting around the pipes and joints and also inspect the bottom of the tank which can rust and disintegrate over time which happened to me.
Pipe burst: Freezing temperatures in the winter in a home that has lost heat or is allowed to drop below a certain temperature is at risk for freezing and bursting pipes. The basement is of course built underground and is the coldest part of the home. Our local water heater supplier wrapped our basement pipes in insulation to help retain heat which can come in handy in winter if you have no heat in the basement.
Water supply burst: A water main break that causes flooding in your basement will generally be the responsibility of the town of city and there isn’t much you can do to prevent such an event from happening since the pipes are underground and not your responsibility. The water pipes that are directly connected to your house up to the point of your taps and faucets will generally be your responsibility however.
Drainage problem: Many basements have a drain on the floor in case of a flood from a pipe leak or burst or a problem with a washing machine or water heater. It’s a good idea to test the drain from time to time by pouring a small amount of water in it and confirm that it drains. Better to know about a blockage before you need to use the drain. Because it’s a storm drain leading to the public sewer, there is always a chance the drain gets blocked or even damaged from tree roots, particularly in older homes. Make sure the drain cover is always open and not covered with a rug or carpet and that in case of a flood, that nothing could float over the drain and block it.
Sump pump problem: A sump pump is a submersible pump that is installed in the ground of a basement. It is typically installed in an old house built below the water table that is prone to getting water in the basement. When water passes through the foundation of a house, it will pool and accumulate unless it is pumped out. A sump pump may break down, lose power or the float doesn’t activate the pump and water doesn’t get pumped out. Inspect the sump pump regularly and have it serviced as required.
Bathroom problem: If you have a bathroom in the basement with a toilet, basin and shower or bath, you are also susceptible to water damage. The most common problems are backups from the drain or a problem with the toilet such as an overflow or leak from the water supply. A water sensor can be attached to these and other water-supplied parts of your house to alert you to a leak.
Outside The Home
Heavy rain: Torrential rain can overpower drains and weeping tiles (we’ll talk about that below). It can also suddenly make you aware of problems that wouldn’t have been noticed if not for a sudden downpour of rain.
Grading: Heavy rain combined with a home that is graded downwards (ie. the slope of the land tilts downwards towards the house) can cause water to roll backwards towards the house, increasing the chance of flooding. If your neighbor’s yard is higher than yours, water can also drain towards your house which can make it worse. Always make sure the grade of the grass or soil against the side of your house grades downwards as you move away from the house to encourage water to drain in the opposite direction of the house.
Weeping tiles: Weeping tiles is a drainage system that is typically built underground around your home to drain water and move it away from the home to the sewer. Pipes are installed around the foundation of your home and since they have small holes at the top, water is allowed to weep or drip into the pipes for drainage. Weeping tiles prevent water from entering your basement. Over many years, weeping tiles can deteriorate or become clogged and stop working leading to water pooling and possibly entering the foundation and ending up in your basement. If the ground around your house remains wet and mushy, it may be a sign that your weeping tiles underneath are clogged and need to be looked at.
Leaking membrane: Weeping tiles help to drain water away from the home. But a home foundation is also built with a membrane around it to keep moisture and water from entering the basement in the first place. A membrane is professionally installed when the home is built and not a DIY project if you need it repaired. If you have water in your basement it’s likely at a minimum that you have a leak in the membrane around the foundation that needs to be looked at by a professional.
Water drainage spouts: If you have gutters around the perimeter of your roof, you have downspouts to drain water. If the downspouts are blocked or leak or are draining too close to your house, the water can end up in your basement if you have a leak in the membrane. You should generally place downspouts 6′ away from your home to properly drain water away. For houses that are built too close together to give you 6′, you may need to speak with your neighbor to figure out how to each deal with it so you aren’t draining water into each other’s foundation.
Gutters: Don’t forget the gutters. Check them in the autumn after leaves have fallen as they tend to get full and blocked. Water can then drip and empty down at the foot of the house and get into the basement. Adding gutter guards will prevent leaves from getting in the gutter and clogging them.
Window wells: If you have windows in your basement, you may have a window well to allow light in. A window well may have gravel at the bottom and most likely has weeping tiles built into the ground so that when water enters the well, it drains away. Over time, these weeping tiles can also get blocked and during heavy rain you may notice that your window well fills up with water like a fish bowl. We experienced this once at my parents’ old house. After the storm passed, my dad and I had to dig up the window wells, dig out the old weeping tiles which were in fact blocked, and replace them. Adding plastic covers over top of the window wells prevents leaves and other debris from falling in and clogging the weeping tiles and also helps to keep rain out.
Your Basement Floods When It Rains
Water in your basement can occur for a number of reasons both inside the home (water leak, pipe burst, sump pump breakdown) or outside (damaged membrane, blocked drainage and weeping tile system). As mentioned above, a flooded basement typically occurs because of damage to the outer membrane that protects against water seeping through the foundation into the basement.
If you notice dampness in your basement or small wet spots on the ground, you should get a professional to take a look as it could be cracks in the foundation or a breakdown in the outer water membrane that needs to be repaired.
If you get water in your basement during or after heavy rain, it’s likely that the weeping tile system around the perimeter of the home is blocked and can’t handle a sudden large amount of water. It’s like a sink that can drain water at a reasonable rate but gets backed up when you turn the water on full blast.
At my parents’ house, we found out during a very heavy rain storm that their weeping tile system was backed up when the window wells in the basement filled up with water and it started pouring into the basement at 1am in the morning. It was made worse by the fact that our neighbors house sloped downwards onto ours. So their water was draining onto my parents lawn towards our house and into the basement during this heavy storm. Given that the downward slope of their grass was maybe 10 feet from my parents house, some of the heavy water flow went right into my parents basement on that night. We found out that the weeping tiles were blocked the hard way.
Signs That You Have A Basement Water Problem
How can you know ahead of time if you have a problem with your weeping tiles or with your protective water membrane around the foundation?
- Use a hose or pour a bucket of water down the middle of the window well and see what happens. Does it drain or get backed up? Better to know that it’s blocked now than during a storm.
- Do you notice mustiness or dampness anywhere in your basement, around the windows, or on the carpet?
- Do you notice mold or mildew on walls or the basement floor?
- Is your drywall peeling or cracking in any particular wet or damp spots?
- Do you see water spots or dried salt (from the water) on your walls or ground?
- Do you notice cracks or spaces on your exposed basement walls? Water may get in and the cracks may be caused from water coming in from behind the walls.
A Basement Flooded With Sewage
If you have any water backed up in your house, immediately shut off the main water supply. Shut off the washing machine or dishwasher if in use and stop using the shower, toilets and faucets until the blockage is solved.
On that note, think about what could have caused the blockage as that may help to narrow down where the problem is coming from. If nothing in your home is draining water at the time of the backup, it might be a bigger problem that your town or city may need to sort out.
If you are draining water from the bathroom, kitchen or washer it’s probable that at least one of them is causing the trouble.
Check with your neighbors to see if they are having the same problem as it could be a larger issue that your municipality needs to look at. If not, get on the phone with a trusted plumber if you can’t resolve the problem yourself. A plumber can either address the problem or offer proof that the issue is bigger than they can resolve and therefore, outside your responsibility.
Basement Flooding And Mold Removal
If water enters your basement, you may soon see black dots on your walls and ground which indicates that mold is present. Mold is dangerous when inhaled so it’s important to get rid of mold as quickly and safely as possible before it spreads.
To prevent mold after flooding in your basement, open the windows and while wearing protective gear, get the water out of the basement as soon as possible. If a carpet or other water-logged furniture is ruined, dispose of it and begin to dry the basement as soon as possible. When electricity is safe to use, run a dehumidifier to get rid of excess moisture.
Mold can usually be removed easily with a damp cloth, warm water and detergent. Wipe all surfaces and dry them quickly. Keep running the dehumidifier until the humidity is down to a reasonable level.
Basement Flooding In Spring
If you live in an area that gets snow and icy weather in the winter, by the time spring rolls around the ground starts to thaw and snow starts to melt. The ground is still hard so the water has nowhere to go so it does what water does: It looks for the path of least resistance and rolls downwards perhaps towards your house.
Over the winter the ground can move, foundations can crack and if your protective water membrane around the house is damaged, water can leak into the basement. What can you do?
- Move snow – especially as it’s melting – away from your home.
- Use the aforementioned window well covers to prevent snow and debris from getting in. Keep these on year round.
- Clear your gutters and ensure that the downspouts haven’t been moved towards the house over winter. Leaves and debris often blow into gutters in the autumn.
- Ensure your grading exists in a way that moves water away from house and not towards it.
- Look for foundation cracks and new cracks in your walls and seal them to prevent water from coming in.
Sump Pump For Basement Flooding
A sump pump is a submersible pump that is built into ground in your basement to pump standing water out. Typically older homes and homes built below a water table that are prone to getting water in the basement use a sump pump. It’s an automatic pump with a float that upon getting triggered when the water level gets high enough, will pump the water out of the basement.
Sump pumps can break down, hoses can get clogged and floats can stop working. If you don’t have a sump pump, you might want to enquire with a local professional to see if you need one.
Who may benefit from a sump pump?
- Homes that already get water in the basement.
- People who live in flood zones.
- Older houses that get damp and wet regularly.
- Homes that even with the constant use of a dehumidifier, still get very damp and wet during the year.
Who To Call When The Basement Floods
When your basement floods, you’re instructed to turn off the electricity. The problem? Many (most?) homes have the electrical breaker box in the basement!
If you need help with your flooded basement due to the amount of water and potential danger with doing it yourself here are the people you will want to call:
Home insurance company: Not only can they instruct you as to what to do, they may suggest or refer you to the following people below.
Electrician: An electrician can help figure out how to turn the power off so that no one gets electrocuted. They can also provide advice on what electrical damage you might already have from the water.
Plumber: A plumber can help you get to the bottom of the flooding in terms of the source and may be able to get rid of the water.
Water damage company: There are companies that specialize in handling water damage and flooded homes and it’s possible they may have their own electricians and plumbers so you may want to call them before a plumber or electrician.
Resolving A Flooded Basement Yourself
Depending on how much water is in the basement and the source, you might be able to handle the work yourself if you’re so inclined. The first order of business is to ensure that the water isn’t so high that it’s dangerous to be downstairs from a drowning and electrical hazard perspective. If it’s safe to do so, turn off the electricity and if the water is coming from inside the home, turn off the main water supply.
Then, if the water isn’t very deep and you are able to do the work yourself:
Remove furniture and other items. Remove your furniture and anything that will create mold or be ruined when wet. Paper, books, electronics and other items should be moved to dry ground.
Remove as much water as possible. Maybe you have a pump or a Shop Vac that pumps water. In the instance I mentioned above at my parents’ house, the water wasn’t very deep (about an inch) so I literally took a snow shovel and shoveled the water from the main room where it entered the basement into the other room where the floor drain was.
Heaters and dehumidifier: Once the water was removed at my parents place, we dried the basement with heaters and ran the dehumidifier for days. Use space or block heaters and you might want to open the windows too as it can get steamy with the heat which will create more moisture.
Why Is My Basement Flooding Insurance Claim Being Denied
There are a number of reasons that a basement flooding insurance claim – or any insurance claim for that matter – may be denied:
- Insurance companies deny claims as a matter of course. They make money by collecting insurance premiums not by paying out claims. Don’t give up and keep fighting for payment if you feel you are in the right.
- Various tricks. Sometimes insurers will try to get another insurance policy that you have to pay a claim while the other insurer says the same thing. Insurance companies may also get you to admit you were at fault or suggest you avoid getting a lawyer. They may keep denying a claim because you’re filling out the claim form incorrectly, among other reasons.
- Assumptions of facts. Insurance companies may use an error such as an assumption of the facts or may deny the claim on a technicality (you made a mistake on the original application) to try to avoid paying. They know many people won’t fight it. You should fight this because it may not even be something they are allowed to do in your jurisdiction.
- Small print. Check the small print of your policy is see if there is any legal way that they can get out of paying the claim.
Understand your local laws because your jurisdiction may protect you in a certain way that another area won’t. Also learn about the appeals process so you can understand how to fight a claim denial.
Also, take pictures of the damage as soon as you can before cleaning anything up to illustrate what the flooding looks like.
Determine Flood Likelihood Before You Buy A House
What sorts of things can you look out for when buying a house to ensure you’re not at risk of flooding in the future?
- Is the house located next to another house that has a higher grade and could potentially cause water to run down towards your home?
- Is the home located in a known flood zone? Check the FEMA
website to learn more. - Is the street sloped downwards or is the home located in a valley that could cause trouble in the case of torrential rain?
- Is the home located near a river, lake, or beachfront?
- Is it an old home that may not have a membrane around the house to protect against water or is it possible the membrane needs to be replaced?
- Does the house already show signs of previous flooding that the current owner isn’t tell you ie. mold, dampness, mustiness, discoloration on the walls.
Prevent Basement Flooding
To summarize, you can help to prevent basement flooding in your home by doing the following:
- Clear gutters so they are free of leaves, debris, and mud that can accumulate.
- Ensure downspouts point 6′ away from your house.
- Use window well covers year round to keep water, snow, leaves and even animals out.
- Ensure that weeping tiles in window wells are free of debris even if you have window well covers in the case of a heavy rain storm.
- Grade the ground on the side of your house so that water flows away from the home rather than towards it.
- Fix cracks in your basement walls with epoxy to prevent water from dripping in.
- Install (or get a plumber to install) water surge protector hoses on your toilets and other water-using appliances. If the hose detects a surge in water, it assumes the hose has broken and shuts off the water supply.
- Add a monitored basement water sensor from a security alarm company and also enquire about getting water sensors added to your washing machine, dishwasher and faucets.
- Double check with your insurance company regarding your flooding protection to understand ahead of time what your protection level is. Ask about flood coverage, sewer back ups and other coverage you may already have.