How to Clear a Flooded Cellar
Floodwater is destructive for many reasons, some of which homeowners often don't consider. In addition to the obvious damage to flooring, wall materials, furniture and other possessions, the pressure exerted by exterior floodwater and the saturated ground that surrounds your cellar has the potential to cause serious structural damage. Therefore, it's important to clear your flooded cellar using a procedure that protects the integrity of your home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Submersible pump
- Extension cord or car battery for pump
- Garden hose
- Measuring tape
- Waders
- Waterproof gloves
- Safety goggles
- Particle mask
- Shovel
- Wet/dry vac
- Mop
- Towels
Instructions
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Turn off the power if you can reach the circuit box safely without entering the water. Contact a licensed electrician to shut the power off for you if you're unable to do it safely.
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Turn off the gas, if a gas line runs to your home, and contact the gas company immediately.
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Wait for the outdoor water to recede before you pump your cellar. Begin pumping when the outside water level is equal to or less than the level of water in the cellar.
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Rent or purchase a submersible pump if your cellar doesn't have a sump pump or if your pump is nonfunctional or inaccessible. Run power from a neighbor's house, if necessary, if the pump is electric-powered. Alternately, use a 12-volt car battery to power a battery-operated pump.
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Dress in protective gear before you enter the cellar. Wear waders, waterproof gloves, goggles and a particle mask to protect yourself against toxins that might be present in the air and water.
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Inspect as much of the cellar's structure as you're able to. Look for signs of structural damage that might make it unsafe for you enter. Do not enter the cellar if it appears unsafe.
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Follow the manufacturer's or rental center's instructions for the specific operating procedure for your pump. The instructions include placing the submersible pump in the cellar, attaching a garden hose to it and siphoning water through the hose to the outdoors.
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Pump until the water level is reduced by 1 to 2 feet, or by whatever amount you can pump out while maintaining opposing force against exterior water and saturated ground. Measure the exterior water or ground level, if necessary, and use the measurement as a guide to help you determine how much water you can safely pump.
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Wait 24 hours before pumping again. Pump an additional amount of water to bring the cellar water level to the same level as the flood water outside. Pump 1 to 2 additional feet of water each day if the outdoor water has receded. Continue pumping 1 to 2 feet of water daily until nearly all the water has been removed.
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Suction as much remaining water as possible with a wet/dry vac if there’s no mud or silt in the cellar. Otherwise, shovel the mud out immediately.
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Clean up remaining soil and water with mops and towels.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you've cleared the water and mud and removed the contents of the cellar, as well as floor and wall materials that are damaged beyond repair, wash the remaining hard wall and floor surfaces with a disinfectant bleach solution. Rinse the surfaces thoroughly using a hose, then pump out and clean up the rinse water.
Ventilate the basement well after you've cleaned it thoroughly. Open doors and windows. Place fans and space heaters on the floor.
You must turn the power off even if you have no service because of a widespread outage. If power is restored while you're standing in water, you could be electrocuted.
Everything that comes in contact with floodwater and mud -- including furniture, clothing and other belongings -- must be disinfected before they're safe for use. Floodwater and silt may contain bacteria, mold spores and other dangerous toxins. If in doubt, throw it out.
References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
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