What to Do When Your Basement Floods

A flooded basement is one of the most common — and most stressful — home emergencies in Philadelphia, thanks to our older homes, high water table and aging sewers. What you do in the first hour matters a lot. Here's a clear, safe step-by-step.

1. Stay Safe — Electricity First

Before you step into any standing water, think about electricity. Water can reach outlets, the furnace, the water heater and electrical panels, creating a serious shock hazard. If you can safely reach your electrical panel without standing in water, shut off power to the basement. If the panel itself is in the flooded area or you'd have to stand in water to reach it, don't — stay out and call an electrician or your utility. No belongings are worth an electrocution risk.

2. Identify and Stop the Source (If You Can)

Figure out where the water is coming from. If it's a burst pipe or a plumbing failure, shut off your home's main water valve. If it's storm or sewer water coming up through a floor drain, there's nothing to shut off — and you should avoid contact, since sewer-related water can be contaminated. Knowing the source also matters for your insurance claim.

3. Document Everything for Insurance

Before you start moving or removing anything, photograph and video the flooding thoroughly — the water level, the affected areas and any damaged belongings. This documentation is important for your claim. (Our guide on whether insurance covers water damage explains what's typically covered.)

4. Start Removing Water Only If It's Safe

If the water is shallow, clean and the power is off, you can begin removing what you can with a wet/dry vacuum and moving undamaged items to a dry area. Do not wade into deep water, water near electrical sources, or anything that looks or smells like sewage — that's a job for a crew with the right equipment and protection. For sewage or contaminated water, see our sewage cleanup page.

5. Get Air Moving

Once standing water is gone, ventilation helps. Open windows if it's dry outside, and run fans and a dehumidifier if you have them. But understand the limit: household fans and a small dehumidifier dry surfaces, not the structure. Water wicks into drywall, framing and the slab, and that hidden moisture is what grows mold.

6. Know When to Call the Pros

Call a professional restoration company if any of these apply:

• The water is more than an inch or two deep
• It reached drywall, insulation, framing or finished walls
• It's sewage or otherwise contaminated
• It sat for more than a few hours
• The furnace, water heater or electrical were affected
• You have a finished basement with carpet, drywall or built-ins

7. Address Why It Happened

Once the emergency is handled, find out the cause so it doesn't repeat. Common Philadelphia culprits include sump-pump failure, sewer surcharge during heavy rain, foundation seepage, and grading or downspouts that channel water toward the house. Fixing the cause is what turns a one-time cleanup into a permanent solution.

What Not to Do

• Don't enter deep or contaminated water, or water near electrical sources.
• Don't use a household vacuum (not a wet/dry vac) on water.
• Don't assume surface drying is enough — hidden moisture causes mold.
• Don't throw away damaged items before documenting them for your claim.

Need Help Now?

If your basement is flooding, our crews respond 24/7 across Philadelphia and the suburbs with high-capacity pump-out and structural drying. Call (267) 668-0013 — we'll talk you through staying safe while we're on the way.