Flooded basement cleanup in Williamsport
Basements take on water from every direction: rain, snowmelt, a failed sump pump, a burst line. Here is what to do first and how the cleanup usually goes.
Safety first
- Do not wade in to reach the electrical panel. If water could reach outlets, cords, appliances or the panel, have an electrician or your electric utility shut off the power before anyone goes in.
- Gas appliances in a flooded basement, such as a furnace or water heater, should be checked before they run again.
- Treat river and creek water as contaminated. The restoration industry’s standard (IICRC S500) classes rising water from rivers or streams as its most contaminated category. Wear boots and gloves, and keep children and pets out.
Where the water comes from
- Ground water pushing in through the floor joint or cracks after long rain or snowmelt.
- A sump pump that failed, lost power, or could not keep up.
- Surface water running toward the house from gutters, downspouts or grading.
- River or creek flooding in low-lying parts of the area.
- Plumbing: a burst pipe, water heater or washer hose.
- Sewer backup through a floor drain. Treat that as a sewage backup.
How a basement gets dried out
- Standing water is pumped and extracted.
- Wet carpet, pad and anything porous that cannot be dried is removed.
- Drywall and insulation are cut away above the water line if they wicked water up.
- Air movers and dehumidifiers run until moisture readings say the walls, floor and framing are dry.
- Surfaces are cleaned, and treated if the water was dirty.
After it is dry
A basement that floods once often floods again. Ask about the cause: sump pump capacity and a battery backup, gutters and grading, foundation cracks, or a backwater valve if the sewer backed up.
Request help with a flooded basement
Send a request, choose “Flooded or wet basement,” and say whether water is still coming in.