How To Cleanup Flooded Basement

It is common knowledge that flood damage can have a significant impact on residential properties, but it is less well known that commercial properties can also be at risk of being damaged. Because wet environments can be so destructive, repairing the damage caused by water can be a challenging and time-consuming process. 

Why does it seem like every time it rains really hard, my basement gets flooded?

If water is coming up through floor drains or sink drains in the basement, then the problem is likely water backing up from the municipal sanitary sewer system. This can be a messy and expensive problem. Combined sewer systems have the potential to become clogged with water during periods of intense rainfall. Because of this, sewage water may back up into the system, and in some cases, it may even enter homes.

Will sandbags keep water out of the basement?

There is no assurance that a watertight seal will be created simply by installing sandbags in the basement. Sandbags' primary function is to redirect water in a different direction, away from sensitive electronic equipment and HVAC systems, so that damage can be avoided. To prevent water from entering the area of the basement that has been sealed off, the sandbags need to be filled with the appropriate amount of sand or other material.

What other options do I have besides using sandbags?

To begin, you will need trash bags, which you will then use to fill with sand before closing tightly with duct tape. It might also sound crazy, but some people claim that they were successful by partially filling those same bags with water. This might sound crazy to some people. It has a similar effect to that of sand in that it fills in the voids and void spaces.

Where do the old drains from the basement floor go?

The majority of people are unaware of the fact that the floor drains in their basements are typically directly connected to the sewage system that services the entire house. In some homes, the water even flows directly into a sump pit, from which it is pumped to the surface of the exterior of the house.

When I flush the toilet in my house, my basement floods. Why is this?

A clog in the sewer line that serves your house is likely to be to blame if the floor drain in the basement begins to overflow whenever you flush the toilet. The flushing of items that aren't designed to be flushed is the most common cause of these blockages. However, blockages can also be caused by tree roots that have invaded the sewer line.