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Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky homeowners know flooded basements are serious issues. Many homeowners invest in their basements and stand to lose more than just stored holiday decorations.

If your basement has flooded, you’re probably wondering what to do. In this blog, we’ll cover what to do about a flooded basement. This blog also covers steps to avoid future basement flooding.

How To Get Water out of a Flooded Basement

If Flooding is From an Indoor Source, Turn off the Water Valve

Most water meters have two valves: one on the house and the other on the street. Usually, the main shutoff is in the basement nearest the street side of the house. If the water comes from the water heater, turn off the valve. Some water heaters may not have one. If this is the case, get assistance from a professional plumber.

Sump Pump Not Working?

Sump pumps are supposed to prevent basement flooding. If you have a sump pump but your basement is still flooded, replace your sump pump. If you're not sure if it's working, unplug the unit for about 10 seconds. When you plug it back in, it should begin to cycle.

Basement Drain Flooding

If water is entering your basement through a floor drain, either the city main is backing up or there's an obstruction in your sewer line. If the flood is substantial enough, this water will start coming in the foundation's cracks as well. Call a plumber and notify the city.

Dealing With Floor Drain Issues

• Temporarily fix this problem by installing a standpipe. Once installed, this pipe gives the water somewhere to go if there's a backup. This avoids a flooded basement.
• Purchase a floor drain plug to use as a temporary fix.
• Disconnect your sewer from your floor drain. This is a permanent fix.
• Install a heavy-duty check valve, like a backwater valve. This permanent fix ensures water backing up from the sewer won't enter your home.
• Turn your gravity sewer into an overhead sewer. With this permanent fix, you abandon your sewer and redirect all your fixtures overhead in the basement ceiling. To reconnect to the city main you’ll need excavation. Finally, you'll need to install a sump pump inside an ejector pit to take care of your basement fixtures or drains.

What Causes Basement Flooding?

Overland Flooding or Surface Inflow

Rain and melting snow quickly strain drainage systems, causing basements to flood. This is possible even if you don’t live in a floodplain. Whether you’re near the Ohio River or not, Cincinnati has experienced several flooding incidents within the last couple of years.

Foundation Drainage Fails

Homes are built to direct water away from the foundation. Sometimes those plans fail. Here are a few reasons why.

Weeping Tile Fails

Weeping tiles protect your home from water damage by collecting and moving groundwater away from your foundation. Just like other aspects of your plumbing system, weeping tiles are prone to deterioration and failure. Collapsed pipes or a clog of sediment is usually the cause.

Seepage

Once the water table rises, water enters the basement through any unplanned path, such as cracks or holes. Frequently, the ground is too saturated to absorb any more water while the rain or snow melt continues. The water has to go somewhere (usually basements).

Sewer Backup

Sewer systems can become overloaded. This can cause sewage wastewater to enter your home at your lowest fixture. Often, this is a basement floor drain, shower drain, or toilet.

Water Heater Failure or Break in Water Supply Line

The average lifespan of a tank water heater is 8 to 12 years. Maintenance frequency, usage level, and water quality affect this timespan. For example, if you have hard water and no water softener, you may have accumulated sediment in the bottom of your water heater tank.

Doing so dislodges sediment which, by now, may even be plugging minor cracks. Once the long-standing sediment is disturbed, it sometimes causes water heater leaks. The aftermath of frozen pipes can also flood your basement. 

Major Clogs

Flush something you shouldn’t have? Use a lot of those not so flushable “flushable wipes?” It could lead to a flooded basement. Likewise, a clogged drain in your main line or another line could reach a tipping point and backflow into the home.

Sewer Line Failure

Many homes have sewer lines that were installed decades ago. The pipes may be clogged with tree roots or collapsed because of material erosion.

How to Avoid a Flooded Basement

Be sure to get your plumbing system inspected right away if you suspect a problem. Slow drains, odd smells from sump pumps or drains, or a gurgling sound suggest you might need plumbing or sewer services.

In addition, if your home is older, get a main drain clearing with Apollo Home. Our licensed plumbers also perform camera inspections to verify the status of sewer lines. If you suspect tree roots are a problem, a camera inspection confirms the situation before it’s too late.

Can Flooded Basement Carpet Be Saved?

This is a popular question. According to our friends in the water damage restoration industry, it can. If the water is from a clean source, like a plumbing leak or a broken water heater, it’s possible to dry the carpet and prevent mold formation. If the flooding is due to wastewater, like a sewage backup, for example, the carpet should be removed.

Prevent Plumbing and Sewer Problems with the Apollo Care Plan

Want to get ahead of plumbing problems like a flooded basement? Join the Apollo Care Plan. It covers seasonal tune-ups of your heating and cooling equipment as well as annual evaluations of the plumbing and electrical systems in your house.

Take advantage of these annual evaluations. Ask your licensed plumber to show you how to turn off the different water valves in your house, for example.

Our team is happy to answer your questions and to inform you about the mechanical systems in your home. Apollo Care Plan members also receive discounts and perks like a VIP phone number for priority scheduling.

In Conclusion: A Flooded Basement Qualifies for Emergency Services

If you find a plumbing leak, have a major clogged drain, find your sump pump is broken, or have standing water in the basement, call Apollo Home for 7 Days a week/365 service. It’s critical to address the source of the problem quickly and begin cleaning up and preventing mold.

Apollo Home has served Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with home comfort needs since 1910. We’ve received awards such as “Best in Cincinnati” for Home Services, Angie’s List Super Service Award, Contractors of the Year from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, and an A+ Accredited Business rating from the Better Business Bureau.

You’ll find our plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs traveling to customers in Blue Ash, West Chester, Bridgetown, Hyde Park, and Indian Hill in Greater Cincinnati. We also serve areas like Edgewood, Francisville, Latonia, Taylor Mill, and Union, Kentucky.