Basement Water Damage Guides · Basement Water Damage Guides

What Not to Do After Basement Flooding

What not to do basement flooding guidance is as useful as the guidance on what to do, because the common mistakes after a flood are the ones that turn a bad situation into a worse one. A homeowner who wades in to save a box, who tries to pump the water out while standing in it, or who starts cleaning up sewage themselves can be hurt, and a homeowner who opens the wrong door can spread the water further. The mistakes are easy to make, and they are easy to avoid once they are known.

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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, knowing what not to do is worth as much as knowing what to do. The [basement flooding cleanup](/basement-flooding-cleanup/) page describes the cleanup service in general terms.

Do not enter the flooded basement

Do not enter a flooded basement for any reason, including to save belongings, to find the source of the leak, or to switch something off. Submerged outlets and panels make the water dangerous, and floodwater is not safe water, so contact with it should be avoided. A person who steps into that water can be electrocuted before they understand what has happened, and the depth can be hard to judge from the top of the stairs.

Stay on dry ground, keep children and pets away, and close the basement door if you can do so from dry ground. The water will still be there when a professional arrives, and the room is not worth the risk.

Do not touch electrics in standing water

Do not touch electrical items, switches, or outlets in standing water, and do not touch a panel that water has reached. A switch that looks dry from above may be wet below, and an outlet covered by only a few inches of water is live under water. Unplug nothing that is standing in water, and do not try to move an appliance that is wet.

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. A professional can deal with the electrics once the water has been removed.

What Not to Do After Basement Flooding — California basement water damage guide

Do not try DIY sewage cleanup

Do not try to clean up sewage yourself. Sewage is Category 3 black water, and it is a professional-only job. No do-it-yourself sewage-cleanup advice is given here, because the health risks and the cleaning involved are matters for a professional. Stay out, keep everyone away, and call a professional to arrange a visit.

Do not handle items that have been in contact with sewage, and do not try to wash them yourself. The [basement sewage cleanup](/basement-sewage-cleanup/) page describes the sewage cleanup service in general terms.

Do not pump water out while standing in it

Do not try to pump water out of a flooded basement while standing in it, and do not use a household vacuum, a mop, or any electrical item in standing water. A pump or a vacuum that is used in water can become live, and a person using it can be electrocuted. The water removal is a job for a professional, with the right equipment and the room dealt with safely first.

Do not open the basement door to let the water out into the rest of the home, because that spreads the water to rooms that are still dry. Keep the water contained in the basement, and let a professional remove it.

Do not try to repair a burst pipe yourself

Do not try to repair a burst pipe yourself, because a major burst is professional-only work and no do-it-yourself repair advice for a major burst is given here. Shut off the water main if it is safe to do so from a dry place, and then call a professional. A plumber looking at the pipe in person can say what repair fits, and a cleanup company can deal with the water that has already been released.

Do not try to seal a leaking crack from the inside while the room is flooded, and do not try to dry the room with a household fan while standing in water. The repair and the drying are jobs for a professional, once the room is safe.

Do not delay calling a professional

Do not delay calling a professional, because water left in a basement can cause further damage over time. The call should be made after the safety steps, and the description should cover what you can see from a safe distance: where the water is, how deep it looks, whether it is still rising, and whether it followed rain or appeared on a dry day.

The [basement flooding cleanup](/basement-flooding-cleanup/) page describes the cleanup service in general terms for California homeowners with basements.

Key Takeaways

Do not enter a flooded basement for any reason, including to save belongings, to find the source of the leak, or to switch something off.
Do not touch electrical items, switches, or outlets in standing water, and do not touch a panel that water has reached.
Do not try to clean up sewage yourself.
Do not try to pump water out of a flooded basement while standing in it, and do not use a household vacuum, a mop, or any electrical item in standing water.
Do not try to repair a burst pipe yourself, because a major burst is professional-only work and no do-it-yourself repair advice for a major burst is given here.
Do not delay calling a professional, because water left in a basement can cause further damage over time.

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 Flooding 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 Live Oak, Santa Cruz, CA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.