The Best Method for Drying Out a Flooded Basement

Dry out a flooded basement in stages to prevent further damage.

Recovering from a flood takes a lot of hard work and patience. Flood waters can weaken basement construction materials, bring in contaminants and promote the growth of dangerous molds and mildew. The best way to dry out your basement is in stages to ensure that your house's foundation does not incur even more damage, that contaminants can be removed safely and that mold and mildew will not get a chance to grow.

Things You'll Need

• External pump
• Sump pump
• Shop broom or floor squeegee
• Wet/dry vacuum
• Disinfectant
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Respirator
• Dehumidifier
• Large fans

Instructions

1. Turn off the power to your basement and wait until the water around your house has receded. Use external pumps to remove about a third of the water every day until the water is low enough for your sump pump to handle it. Removing more than a third of the water per day may weaken and crack the house's foundation and cause your basement to reflood.

2. Turn the basement power back on and run your sump pump if you have one. Put on your gloves, goggles and respirator. Use a shop broom or floor squeegee to push large water puddles towards the sump-pump hole. Open the basement's doors and windows if you have them.

3. Run the wet/dry vacuum over the basement floor to take care of smaller puddles. Put down disinfectant on the floor to help kill bacteria and get rid of any odors from the flood water. Empty the wet/dry vacuum as soon as you are done to prevent bacteria and odor problems in your vacuum.

4. Place as many fans as you can in the basement and turn them on. Do not turn on the central air or heating, as this can dry out and further damage the building materials.

5. Use a dehumidifier and run it 24/7. Turn off the dehumidifier when the catch bucket is full and empty the catch bucket. Replace the bucket and turn on the dehumidifier again. Attach a hose to the dehumidifier if possible to run it continuously without having to repeatedly empty the catch bucket.

Tips & Warnings

• Take before-and-after pictures for insurance purposes.

• Be patient and dry out your basement in stages to create a salvageable situation. Rushing the job will definitely cause more damage.

• Your local fire department may pump out your basement for you if it is severely flooded.

• Use protective gear such as gloves, goggles and a respirator. Flood waters can bring in nasty contaminants and cause dangerous mold and mildew to grow quickly.

• Be careful around water and electricity to prevent electrical shocks or electrocution.

References

• North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources: Tips for Drying Out a Water-Damaged Building
• Chicago Tribune: Flooded Basement
• Geek Books: Drain the Flood Water From the Basement
• Geek Books: Mopping Up the Basement Floor
• Geek Books: Drying Out the Basement