Restoration blog topic
Basement flooding, storm water and sewage cleanup guides
Not every wet basement is the same problem. The guides here separate routine clean-water losses from groundwater, storm water and sewage events that need different cleanup, documentation and material decisions.
A wet basement is one of three different problems, and the cleanup depends on which one you have. Clean water from a supply line or a failed sump can often be dried and kept. Groundwater and storm water carry soil and bacteria, so porous materials such as carpet, drywall and insulation are usually removed. Sewage is the most serious: it is treated as contaminated, and anything it touched that cannot be washed and disinfected comes out. Keep people and pets out of the water, shut off power to the wet area if you cannot do it from dry ground, and do not run the sump or a wet vacuum through sewage. The guides below separate the situations so you can find the one that matches your basement.
Sewage and contaminated water
Water categories decide the scope. Sewage and flood water count as contaminated. That changes what can be saved, what protective gear is used and how the work is documented.
Sump pumps and basement seepage
A basement that seeps every spring is a drainage problem; one that floods after a power outage or pump failure is an emergency. Fix the water source first, then dry, because drying a basement that keeps taking on water does not last.
River, lake and flood recovery
After a river or lake flood, work in order: safety and utilities, documentation, removal of wet materials, drying, then repairs. Wells and septic systems need testing and inspection before use.