Flooded Basement & Sump Pump Failure Cleanup

A lot of Commerce City homes, from older ranches to newer two-stories in the northern subdivisions, have basements, and many of those basements are finished with carpet, drywall, and a bedroom or family room. That makes basement water expensive: it soaks the carpet pad, wicks up the drywall, and reaches the furnace and water heater.

Common reasons basements flood here

• Sump pump failure. A worn-out pump, a stuck float switch, or a power outage during a summer thunderstorm.
• Window wells. Uncovered wells fill with hail, leaves, and rain, then leak through the window.
• Downspouts and grading. Roof water dumped next to the foundation, or soil that settled and now slopes toward the house.
• Water heaters and softeners. Usually in the basement, so a tank failure goes straight to the floor.
• Frozen pipe bursts in a basement ceiling or rim joist. See burst and frozen pipes.
• Floor drain backups. If the water came up through the floor drain, treat it as sewage; see sewage backup cleanup.

Safety before anything else

Do not walk into a basement with standing water if outlets, extension cords, the furnace, or the electrical panel are wet or close to the water. If you cannot reach the main breaker without stepping in water, wait for a professional or your utility. Gas appliances that were submerged should be checked before they are used again.

What basement cleanup usually involves

• Pumping out standing water and extracting carpet
• Pulling wet carpet pad (it rarely dries well in place)
• Cutting the bottom of wet drywall and removing wet insulation
• Drying the concrete, framing, and any remaining materials with dehumidifiers
• Checking the sump pit, pump, and check valve, and recommending a plumber or waterproofer if needed

Keep your sump pump ready

Pour a bucket of water into the pit every few months to make sure the pump turns on and shuts off. Pumps wear out, so many homeowners plan on replacing theirs every several years and add a battery backup and a high-water alarm. Make sure the discharge line is clear, points away from the house, and is not frozen in winter.

Near Sand Creek, First Creek, or Second Creek?

If your home is near one of the creeks that drain through Commerce City toward the South Platte River, you can look up your flood zone on the Mile High Flood District floodplain viewer or FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. Standard homeowners policies typically do not cover flooding from outside water; that usually requires separate flood insurance.

Get a referral

Call {{PHONE}}. Tell us where the water came from, how deep it is, and whether the basement is finished. We will try to connect you with an independent provider who serves your area.

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