My basement is flooding, what do I do to clean and repair?

Question

Our basement windows in our laundry room are currently leaking big time and it's storming outside. We've tried to move as much out of the way so it can go down the drain. However, some of it flooded into the carpeted room next to it through/under? the wall. We noticed this problem earlier and thought we had solved it using caulk. We got silicone caulk just in case it happened again, we read silicone was better. It's leaking through the bottom of the windows. So, what should I do now and what should I do once it stops raining? Can I dry the carpet out with towels or do I need to wet vac it out? What should I do about the walls? and finally, what about those windows? Thank you!

note - we have not used the silicone caulk yet, we just got it "in case"

yes, we do have window wells. We have two windows that both have dirt/bushes oustide of them. The water appears to be coming in the window wells, into the screen and leaking out the bottom. The screens are full of water. We tried getting well covers but the ones at the hardware store are too large for our windows. Are there places we can get custom well covers or at least a variety of sizes? I'm on my way downstairs now with new towels and a fan.

Answer 1

first things first... get it dry ASAP to prevent mildew ….. run fans, heat and dehumidifier if you can…

Do not try to vacuum, sweep or shampoo carpets until they are thoroughly dry...

If you can see where the water is coming in & it's above grade caulk way... are there window well's involved? if so, you can get covers for like $10... maybe get a prefessional to look at it..

Answer 2

I think you're going to be in for an unpleasant surprise. A basement isn't considered 'living space' (finished or not) unless it has acceptable egress to the outside, either for windows large enough to escape through, a door, or both. It's still a basement. Worse yet, the landlord has to pay NOTHING for the items you lost. That's why you have renter's insurance (you DO have renter's insurance, don't you?) You occupy the house, and you should be watching to see if there are any issues with the sump pump. You can purchase a moisture alarm for about $30 as additional security and warning of possible pump failure. As far as running the fan goes, they use relatively little electricity, and would probably only raise your bill by $5 per month or less.

Answer 3

If the windows are old I would replace them and caulk the opening before putting in the window. Then try to see why the water is going towards the window. the ground near your foundation needs to be pitched away from the house. (super important). As far as the clean up, wet vac the heck out of everything, and as the people on my block did - hire Stanley Steamer (franchise)http://www.stanley-steemer.com/
that way you can get the musty moldy smell out. Sheetrock walls? let them dry, Is the wall itself leaking (cement,cinderblock) fix that from outside.

Answer 4

You need to check the grade around your home. Often basement leaks occur when water drains toward the foundation. Grade needs to be sloping away for at least 5 feet. There's a specific minimum ratio for this. Make sure your gutter pipe is directing water well away from the house. You can also get covers for window wells if you have them. It can get very complicated but there's a lot of info oline.

Answer 5

if the walls are leaking then you should get the thing dug out and there is a word for it which i cant remember rite now but you will need some hydro cement to fix it up and its a major problem my dear friend.... you need a pro for this job no kidding

Answer 6

look in yellow pages under disaster/ water damage/carpet cleaning. There are a bunch in my area that are 24/7

Answer 7

i would have a professional do it. The water damage could be more than meets the eyes, there are many diseases born in water, and most materials i.e. carpet, wood, underlayment will rot is soaked with water.

Answer 8

drink the water. and haha.