A flooded basement is one of the most stressful things homeowners can experience. But knowing exactly what to do can make all the difference between a minor cleanup and thousands of dollars in structural damage and repairs.
If you’re navigating a flooded basement in Kingston or the surrounding area, here’s your step by step guide to handling the situation safely, minimizing damage, and preventing it from happening again.
Why Basement Floods Are So Common in the Kingston Area
In places like Kingston, Amherstview, Odessa, Napanee, and South Frontenac, heavy rains, significant spring thaw, and frequent freeze-thaw cycles are common.
Combine these conditions with the region’s poorly draining, moisture-laden clay filled soil, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Older homes with aging foundations, which are common in Kingston, as well as older weeping tile systems or no drainage systems at all, are particularly vulnerable. Even newer homes can experience a basement flood if the grading, gutters, or sump pumps don’t do their job.
What to Do When Your Basement Floods: A Step by Step Guide
Step 1: Prioritize Safety First
Before you do anything, think about your safety.
- Turn off the electricity to the area if you can do so without stepping into the water. If you need to walk through standing water to reach your electrical panel, call an electrician or your utility provider instead of doing it yourself.
- Avoid making contact with the water until you know where it is coming from. Water from a sump pump failure or groundwater is different from sewage or water that may have come into contact with sewage. If there is a chance of contamination, wear rubber boots and gloves and keep children and/or pets out of the area.
- If you smell gas, your furnace or water heater has been affected by the flood, or you suspect a gas leak, leave the house and call your gas provider immediately.
Step 2: Stop the Source of Water, If Possible
Try to identify and stop the source of the water once it is safe to do so.
- If the sump pump has failed, check to see if the float switch is jammed, the power is out, or the pump itself has stopped working.
- If a pipe has burst, shut off the main water valve to your home.
- If the water is coming in from the outside, whether through a foundation crack, a window well, or a floor drain backup, there may be nothing you can do at the moment but monitor the situation and prepare to remove the water once conditions allow.
Step 3: Document the Damage and Call Your Insurance Company
Before you remove any water or belongings, take photos and video of the flooding, the water levels, and any damaged items.
This documentation is a critical piece of your insurance claim and will make your entire claims process much smoother.
Make note of when the flood started (if you know it) and keep the receipts for anything you purchase for cleanup or temporary repairs.
Step 4: Remove the Water
For minor flooding, that is water of one inch or less, a wet/dry shop vacuum can likely handle the task.
For basement floods with larger amounts of standing water, you’ll likely require a sump pump, submersible pump, or a water damage restoration company that has access to industrial equipment.
Speed is of the essence. The longer the water sits, the more it will soak into drywall, insulation, flooring, and framing. This increases the risk of mould growth.
Mould can start to grow within 24 to 48 hours in a damp environment, leading to both potential structural damage and negative health effects.
Step 5: Dry Out the Space Completely
After the water has been removed, make sure the space can dry completely.
- Run dehumidifiers and fans to ensure air circulation and pull any moisture out of the walls and floors.
- Remove wet carpeting, padding, and any items items sitting directly on the floor.
- Open windows if the weather and outdoor humidity levels allow.
- Look behind and underneath furniture, baseboards, and drywall for hidden moisture as water can wick upwards into drywall above the visible water line.
Run dehumidifiers for several days to a week, depending on how much water entered the basement and how well the area is ventilated.
Step 6: Assess and Address Damage
Once the space is dry, you can identify what needs to be repaired or replaced.
Focus on:
- Drywall and insulation: typically needs to be cut out or replaced if saturated as they rarely dry out completely and can harbour mould.
- Flooring: Carpet, laminate, and engineered wood can absorb water and may need replacing.
- Furniture and belongings: Inspect each item. Porous materials, like upholstery, cardboard, and books often need to be thrown away after significant water exposure.
- Foundation walls and floors: Check for new or worsening cracks. These may point to the source of the flooding and could lead to repeated flooding if not repaired.
Step 7: Call a Waterproofing Professional
A flooded basement has an underlying cause that needs to be identified and corrected or it is likely to happen again.
This is where a professional waterproofing assessment can make a real difference.
A qualified local basement waterproofing team can identify exactly why water is entering your basement. They will look at your foundation, your drainage systems, and your exterior grading. From there, they can recommend a solution like foundation crack repair, updating or installing drainage systems to handle the amount of water your property receives, and exterior waterproofing strategies including parging and changing grading to better funnel water away from the foundation.
Loyalist Waterproofing Services has been helping Kingston area homeowners resolve basement flooding since 2006. We take the time to understand what is happening on your property before recommending solutions and offer a lifetime transferable warranty to provide additional peace of mind.
How to Prevent a Basement Flood in the Future
While you can’t control rainfall, snowmelt, or freeze-thaw cycles, there is plenty you can do to minimize the risk of repeat of your flooded basement in Kingston:
- Clean and maintain eavestroughs and downspouts so that water is directed away from your foundation and not pooling beside it.
- Grade the soil around your home to slope away from the foundation.
- Install or maintain a sump pump. Be sure to install a battery backup to mitigate the issues caused by power outages during significant storms.
- Check your foundation for cracks and weak points, especially if your home is older, or you noticed dampness and musty odours in the basement before the flood.
- Consider installing a drainage system, like French drains, if your property is prone to water accumulation.
Get Help From Kingston’s Local Waterproofing Experts
A basement flood can be an overwhelming experience. But, you don’t have to manage the aftermath on your own.
Loyalist Waterproofing has the knowledge and understanding of the soil, weather, and drainage challenges unique to Southeastern Ontario, providing area homeowners with the the best possible solution.
If you have recently experienced a flooded basement or want to prevent one in the future, contact us for an assessment and quote. The process is simple. We’ll look at your foundation and basement, identify the issues, and provide a recommended solution specific to your home.