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What to Do If Basement Water Keeps Rising

Basement water keeps rising is the most frightening form a basement flood can take, because the water does not stop at a level the homeowner can live with, but climbs toward the outlets, the panel, and the stairs. A rising water level means the source is still feeding the room, and every inch it climbs brings it closer to the electrics and to the rest of the home. The steps for rising water are the same safety steps as for any flood, but they matter more with every inch the water gains.

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Basements are uncommon across most of California, and they exist mainly in older homes and some hillside areas, so this guidance applies to a smaller group of homes. For those homes, though, rising water is the situation that most needs a clear plan made before it happens. The [basement water damage cleanup](/basement-water-damage-cleanup/) page describes the cleanup service in general terms.

Stay out as the water climbs

Stay out of the basement as the water climbs, because the danger grows with the level. Water that was below the outlets when it was found can reach them as it rises, and a room that was safe to look into from the stairs can become dangerous as the water climbs toward the stairway itself. Never enter a flooded basement, and never enter one where the water is still rising. Floodwater is not safe water, so contact with it should be avoided.

Keep children and pets away, and close the basement door if you can do so from dry ground. Do not send anyone down to look, and do not try to wade in to switch something off. The water will still be there when a professional arrives.

Shut off the water only if safe

If the water is clearly from plumbing, shut off the water main if it is safe to do so from a dry place, because stopping the flow is the step that can stop the rise. The shut-off should never be reached by wading through standing water, and if it is in the flooded basement itself, it should be left alone. If the water is from rain or groundwater, shutting off the water main will not stop the rise, and the useful step is to keep the household away and call a professional.

Do not touch electrical items, switches, or outlets in standing water. If the power needs to be shut off, do it only from a dry place and only if it is safe to do so.

What to Do If Basement Water Keeps Rising — California basement water damage guide

Watch the level from a safe place

Watch the level from a safe, dry place at the top of the stairs, and note how fast it is rising. A water level that climbs an inch in an hour is a different situation from one that climbs an inch in ten minutes, and a professional will want to know which it is. Note the time of each check, and take photographs from a safe, dry place, because a record of the rise is useful later.

Do not go down into the water to measure it. The record you make from the stairs is enough, and it keeps you safe while you make it. A tide mark on a wall, showing how high the water has reached, is a useful detail to report.

Move dry belongings out of the way

Move belongings that are on dry ground away from the stairs and the basement door, so that water cannot reach them if it rises further. Do not carry items out of a flooded room, and do not reach into the water to pull something out. The belongings that matter most are the ones that are still dry, and keeping them that way is the practical step to take while the water climbs.

If the water is near the top of the stairs, move rugs, boxes, and anything else on the floor near the door to higher ground. A towel at the threshold will not hold back a flood, but moving dry belongings out of the way will keep them dry if the water rises a little further.

When the water reaches the electrics

When the water reaches electrical outlets or a panel, the room becomes more dangerous, and the household should be kept further away. Do not touch a panel that water has reached, and do not try to switch off the power from inside a flooded basement. If the power needs to be shut off, do it only from a dry place and only if it is safe to do so; otherwise leave it and call a professional.

Say that the water has reached the electrics when you call, because that detail helps a cleanup company understand the situation. A professional can deal with the electrics once the water has been removed.

Call a professional and say the water is rising

Call a professional to arrange a visit, and say that the water is still rising, because that detail changes how the situation must be dealt with. Describe what you have noted: where the water is, how deep it looks, how fast it is rising, and whether it followed rain or appeared on a dry day. The [basement water damage cleanup](/basement-water-damage-cleanup/) page describes the cleanup service in general terms.

While waiting, keep the household on dry ground and keep the basement door closed. Stay out of the water, and let the professional deal with the room.

Key Takeaways

Stay out of the basement as the water climbs, because the danger grows with the level.
If the water is clearly from plumbing, shut off the water main if it is safe to do so from a dry place, because stopping the flow is the step that can stop the rise.
Watch the level from a safe, dry place at the top of the stairs, and note how fast it is rising.
Move belongings that are on dry ground away from the stairs and the basement door, so that water cannot reach them if it rises further.
When the water reaches electrical outlets or a panel, the room becomes more dangerous, and the household should be kept further away.
Call a professional to arrange a visit, and say that the water is still rising, because that detail changes how the situation must be dealt with.

Your Next Step

If this guide matches what you found at home, the next step is a visit — not a guess. Call and describe what you found, and the visit is arranged from what you describe. The Basement Water Damage Cleanup page explains what that service covers, the Basement Flooding Cleanup page covers a related part of the job, and the services hub lists every service in one place.

While you wait, do not enter a flooded basement and do not touch switches, plugs or appliances in standing water. Floodwater is not safe water — keep pets and children clear of it.

Keep the guides on this site bookmarked: the first guide, the signs guide, and the preparation guide cover the checks worth repeating — after moving in, and after heavy rain.

Basement water damage help is available across California. See basement water damage cleanup in Montana Avenue, CA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.