Basement Water Damage Guides · Basement Water Damage Guides

Who to Call When Your Basement Floods in California

Who to call basement floods California homeowners face is a question best answered before the water appears, because the first minutes of a flood are the worst time to search for a number. The short answer in general terms is a basement water damage cleanup company, and the longer answer depends on the source of the water: a plumber for a burst pipe, the power company where the electrics are involved, and the insurer for the claim. Each one handles a different part of the problem.

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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, having the right numbers ready before the rainy season is a simple step that saves time when it matters. California Basement Water Damage Co. is the brand behind this site, and the [basement water damage cleanup](/basement-water-damage-cleanup/) page describes the cleanup service in general terms.

A basement water damage cleanup company

A basement water damage cleanup company is the first call for a flooded basement in general terms, because it is the service that removes the water and deals with the room. When you call, describe 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. That description helps the company understand the situation before it arrives.

No availability or response-time claim is made here, because the time a visit can be arranged depends on the circumstances. Call to arrange a visit, and ask what the visit covers in general terms. The [basement water damage cleanup](/basement-water-damage-cleanup/) page sets out the service in general terms for California homeowners.

A plumber for a burst pipe

A plumber is the right call when the water is clearly from plumbing, because a burst pipe, a failed water heater connection, or a broken hose needs a plumber to fix the source. The cleanup company removes the water, and the plumber stops it at its source, so the two calls serve different purposes. If the water is still flowing from a pipe, shut off the water main first if it is safe to do so from a dry place, and then call.

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. 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.

Who to Call When Your Basement Floods in California — California basement water damage guide

The power company where electrics are involved

Where water has reached electrical outlets or a panel, the power company may need to be told, because the electrical supply to the home may need to be dealt with from outside the property. 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.

A professional can deal with the electrics once the water has been removed. The safety rule is absolute: never enter a flooded basement, and never handle electrics in standing water. Floodwater is not safe water, so contact with it should be avoided.

Your insurer and the claim

Your insurer is the call for the claim, and it should be made after the safety steps and after the water has been dealt with, or as soon as it is safe to do so. Take photographs from a safe, dry place, keep a note of when the water appeared and what you did, and keep any receipts for the work that follows. No coverage promise is made here, because whether a claim is covered depends on the policy and the cause, and only the insurer can say.

Ask your insurer what it needs from you, and keep a record of the conversation. The documentation blog on this site describes the general steps for recording water damage for a claim, and the insurance blog describes insurance in general terms only.

The building manager for apartments

For a basement flood in an apartment building, the building manager is the first call, because the basement is a shared part of the building and the manager is responsible for it in general terms. Tell the manager what you have seen, from a safe distance, and do not enter the flooded basement yourself. The manager can arrange for the water to be dealt with and can tell the residents what to do.

No legal advice is given here, because the duties of a tenant, a landlord, and a building manager vary. The rental and apartment blogs on this site describe the general steps for tenants and residents in more detail.

Keep the numbers ready

Keep the numbers ready before the rainy season, because the first minutes of a flood are the worst time to search for them. A cleanup company, a plumber, and the insurer are the three numbers that matter most, and they should be written down where everyone in the household can find them. A homeowner who has the numbers ready can act quickly, and a quick call is the best first step after the safety steps.

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

Key Takeaways

A basement water damage cleanup company is the first call for a flooded basement in general terms, because it is the service that removes the water and deals with the room.
A plumber is the right call when the water is clearly from plumbing, because a burst pipe, a failed water heater connection, or a broken hose needs a plumber to fix the source.
Where water has reached electrical outlets or a panel, the power company may need to be told, because the electrical supply to the home may need to be dealt with from outside the property.
Your insurer is the call for the claim, and it should be made after the safety steps and after the water has been dealt with, or as soon as it is safe to do so.
For a basement flood in an apartment building, the building manager is the first call, because the basement is a shared part of the building and the manager is responsible for it in general terms.
Keep the numbers ready before the rainy season, because the first minutes of a flood are the worst time to search for them.

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 Railroad District, CA for one local example, or find your town on the service areas page.