Water in the Basement After Rain

What should you do first when the basement floods?

1. Stay out of standing water near outlets, cords, or appliances. Cut power to the basement only from a dry spot. If the panel is in the wet area, wait for an electrician or the restoration crew.
2. Check the sump pump. Is it plugged in, is the breaker on, and is the float stuck?
3. Move belongings to a dry floor, and lift furniture off wet carpet.
4. Photograph the water line on walls, the entry point, and damaged items.
5. Call for water removal if there is more than a shop vacuum can handle, or if carpet, drywall, or a finished floor is wet.

Why do basements leak when it rains?

• Saturated soil. After a long or heavy rain, water pressure in the soil pushes water through cracks and the joint where the wall meets the floor.
• Gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters, or downspouts that empty right beside the foundation, concentrate roof water against the wall.
• Grading. Soil that slopes toward the house sends runoff to the foundation.
• Window wells. Wells without covers or working drains fill up and leak through the window.
• Sump pump. A pump that loses power, burns out, or cannot keep up during a storm lets water rise.

Is basement floodwater clean?

Usually not. Under industry guidelines adapted from the IICRC water damage standard, seepage caused by groundwater pressure and sump pump failures are typically Category 2, or gray water. Rising water from rivers or streams is Category 3 (University of Colorado Anschutz guidelines).

Gray water can make people sick. Wear gloves and boots, keep kids and pets out, and wash up after contact. See clean, gray, and black water for more.

Does insurance cover a basement flooded by rain?

• Rain that came in from above through storm damage, like a roof torn open by wind, is generally covered. Water that comes from the bottom up is treated as flood (Insurance Information Institute).
• Seepage through the foundation is typically excluded from standard policies (Amica).
• Sump pump overflow and drain backups are not covered by a typical homeowners policy or by flood insurance. The coverage comes from a separate endorsement, usually at a modest cost (Insurance Information Institute).
• Surface flooding needs a flood insurance policy.

Read the water backup and flood sections of your policy before you file, and ask your agent if you are unsure which applies.

What do basement water removal and drying involve?

A restoration crew pumps or extracts the standing water, then decides what can be dried in place. Wet carpet pad usually comes out. Drywall that wicked up water may be cut above the wet line so the wall cavity can dry. Dehumidifiers and air movers run for several days, and the crew should take moisture readings until the basement is back to normal.

How do you keep the basement from flooding again?

• Clean gutters and extend downspouts several feet from the foundation.
• Regrade soil so it slopes away from the house.
• Test the sump pump before storm season, and consider a battery backup.
• Cover window wells.

If water keeps coming through the walls or floor, a waterproofing contractor can look at long-term fixes. That is a separate job from water removal.

Common questions

Related guides

• Does insurance cover water damage? 7 min
• Wet carpet after a leak 5 min
• Clean, gray, and black water 5 min