Basement Flood: Your First Sixty Minutes

The short version

Stay safe first, stop the source if you can, record the damage, and call for help. Do not step into water that may be in contact with electricity, and avoid using any plumbing in the house until you know where the water is coming from.

Step by step

1. Check for electrical risk. If the panel is upstairs or dry, turn off the basement circuits. If it is not, stay out.
2. Find the source. Water welling up from the floor drain means the sewer is backing up. Water spreading from a heater, pipe or appliance is a plumbing leak. Water seeping through walls or windows is groundwater or runoff.
3. Stop the source if possible. For a burst pipe or failed heater, close the main valve. Our shut-off guide shows how.
4. Stop using water. While the floor drain is overflowing, each flush or shower makes it worse.
5. Document everything. Take photos and video before you move or clean anything. Your insurer will want them.
6. Move what you can. Lift valuables, papers and electronics to a higher floor.
7. Call your insurer and a plumber. Report the claim early, and get the cause diagnosed.

Sewer backup water carries bacteria. Wear boots and gloves, keep children and pets away, and plan for professional cleanup if the water came from the drain.

Mistakes to avoid

• Running a shop vacuum in standing water near live outlets.
• Pumping out the water before taking photos.
• Assuming the city's sewer is the cause before checking your own lateral for a blockage.
• Leaving wet drywall and carpet in place; mould starts within a couple of days.

Keep a short list by the basement stairs: your insurer's claim line, a plumber's number and the location of the main valve and electrical panel. In a stressful moment, a written list beats memory every time.

After the first hour

Once the water stops and the cause is known, drying is the priority. Remove wet carpet and padding, cut away saturated drywall above the waterline, and run fans and dehumidifiers. If sewer water was involved, consider professional cleanup.

Then look at prevention. If the flood came from a sewer backup, a backwater valve is often the most effective defence. If it came from groundwater, a working sump pump with a battery backup is key. Disconnecting downspouts and grading soil away from the foundation help in both cases.

Time to phone us

Ring us as soon as the area is safe. We clear blocked drains, find leaks and fix failed sump pumps. Once things are dry, look at basement flooding protection, including backwater valves and sump pumps. The city's subsidy program may help with the cost. Other guides are in homeowner guides.