If you’ve ever had to deal with the inconvenience of a flooded basement you’ll know how much it takes to fix the damage. So, having a plan and the right tools to get the job done is tremendously important.
It’s very important that you only pump out one foot of water from your basement to start with. Then stop and use a marker to mark the water level on the wall. Come back the next day and check if the water level has gone up. If it has, and the water level is now higher than your mark, then it’s not yet the right time to drain the basement.
At this point, we recommend waiting for another 24 hours and repeating the process. If the water level is at or below your mark, then you can go ahead and pump out roughly 2 to 3 feet every 24 hours until the basement is completely drained. It’s always best to be on the safe side and take it cautiously, instead of rushing it and getting hurt in the process.
With that said, we’ll now look at the best methods of removing water from your flooded basement.
How to Pump Water Out Of Your Basement
Pumping water out your basement doesn’t have to be a hard job when done right. Having the right equipment makes it a lot easier and less stressful so if you follow the steps below, you’ll have a dry basement again in no time.
1. Getting Everything Set Up For Your Pump
The best thing to use is a submersible water pump. To get it set up, you’ll need a few extra tools. We always recommend turning the power off to the house in the event of a flood to prevent any danger to yourself and anyone else around the house.
Before you start to do any pumping you should wait until the water around the foundation of your house starts to recede. You’ll get all the necessary attachments with the pump, but you’ll also need to get a strong rope so you’re able to lower the pump into the water if it’s too deep or unsafe for you to enter it. You will also need a generator since the power in your home will be shut off.
2. Setting Up Your Pump
Your submersible pump will come with a waterproof exterior that is completely sealed to protect the vital parts from water damage.
You should connect the extension to the pump’s power cords and place the extension where no water will be able to reach it. You should then attach the garden hose or sump hose to the top of the pump — this is where the water will be discharged. Place the other end of the hose in a place where the water can run off without causing any harm.
3. Pumping the Water Out
Attach your rope to the pump and lower it into the basement. Most pumps will have an area where you can tie your rope. If the water isn’t deep your don’t need the rope and can just place your pump at the lowest point. When the pump is in position, you can start the generator and plug in the extension. The pump should start up.
If you have a large area that you need cleared, you can use more than one pump to complete the job quicker. You should ensure the pumps are at the lowest point of the basement so they are able to pump all the water out.
4. Using Wet and Dry Vacuum
After the pump has pumped the water out, your basement will still be wet as the pump won’t make it completely dry. If the water left behind, or the original flood waters, were less than 1 inch deep you can use a dry/wet vacuum to get that water out. The vacuum will come with a tank that can hold up to 5 gallons of water so when it fills you’ll need to go empty it.
How to Pump Water Out of Basement With a Trash Pump
We strongly believe that using a trash pump is an effective when it comes to pumping any large area of water. Some trash pumps have the ability to pump thousands of gallons per hour, which is amazing. In order to remove water using a trash pump, you’ll need to have two hoses — a solid and a flexible hose.
Connect the solid hose to the suction side of the trash pump. Connect the flexible hose to the discharge section of the pump.
How to Pump Water Out of Basement With a Utility Pump
A utility pump can be used with two garden hoses, but the biggest downside is the fact that it doesn’t transfer much water. This means that it can a very long time to get the job done.
Conclusion
After you’ve pumped all the water out, the basement will still be wet from the floor to the walls. This will take some time to dry out and anything that absorbs too much water, especially items that are porous (such as dry wall), will be at risk of mold. We therefore highly recommend removing any dry wall to allow the frame of the basement to dry, then putting on new dry wall.