A short checklist before storm season can reduce the chance of a basement backup and make any loss easier to manage. It covers the drains, the sump, the window wells, the entry points and the photographs. Review it each year and after any loss, and keep the test dates with the house papers.
Key takeaways
- Test the floor drains and the sump before each storm season
- Check the discharge line of the sump and keep it clear
- Clear the window wells and check their covers
- Ask a plumber whether a backwater valve is fitted and working
- Keep dated photographs of the lower level
Testing the sump before the season
Pour water into the pit until the float lifts and the pump runs, then check the discharge.
A sump is tested before storm season, not during a storm. Pour water into the pit until the float lifts and the pump starts, and let it run until the pit is empty. A pump that does not start, a float that sticks or a pump that runs without emptying the pit is a failure to fix before the next storm.
Check the discharge line as well. It should run away from the house, and it should not be blocked by leaves, debris or ice. A discharge that ends against the foundation can send the water back toward the wall.
- Pour water into the pit until the float lifts
- Confirm the pump starts and empties the pit
- Check the float moves freely
- Check the discharge runs away from the house
- Check the battery backup, if one is fitted
Testing the floor drains and the backwater valve
Pour a bucket of water into each floor drain, and ask a plumber whether a backwater valve is fitted.
A floor drain that does not run away is a path for sewer water into the basement. Pour a bucket of water into each drain and watch it drain. If it drains slowly or backs up, call a plumber before the next storm.
A backwater valve is a device that stops sewer water flowing back into a building. Ask a plumber whether one is fitted, whether it is working and whether it is the right one for the line. The crew does not fit or advise on the valve, but it records whether it saw one.
- Pour a bucket of water into each floor drain
- Note any drain that drains slowly
- Ask a plumber whether a backwater valve is fitted
- Ask whether a fitted valve is working
- Keep the plumber's note with the house papers
Window wells, covers and the outside
Window wells and their covers are cleared, and the grade is checked so water runs away from the house.
A window well that fills in a storm pushes water through the window frame and the wall joints. Clear each well of leaves and debris, check its drain and check the cover. A cover that is cracked or missing lets rain and debris in.
Check the grade around the house as well. Water should run away from the foundation. A low spot against the wall collects water and sends it toward the lowest door or window.
- Clear each window well of leaves and debris
- Check the drain at the bottom of the well
- Check that each cover fits and is not cracked
- Check the grade slopes away from the foundation
- Fill any low spot against the wall
The lower level and what is stored there
Stored contents are moved off the floor, and a dated inventory is kept.
The lowest shelf is the first place a flood reaches. Move stored boxes, papers and furniture off the floor onto shelves where possible, and keep valuables in sealed containers on a higher shelf. A basement that stores nothing on the floor loses less in a storm.
Keep a dated photograph of the lower level and of the valuables in it. The photographs are the record that an insurer will ask for after a loss.
- Move boxes and papers off the floor
- Keep valuables in sealed containers on a high shelf
- Photograph the lower level with the date
- Keep a list of valuables with serial numbers where known
- Review the list each year
Records to keep and when to review
Keep the test dates, the photographs and the plumber's notes together, and review the list each year.
A checklist with dates is a record of care. Keep the test dates, the photographs and the plumber's notes in one folder with the house papers. Review the checklist once a year and after any loss, because the house and its storage change over time.
A homeowner who can show a dated record of testing has a clearer account of what was done before a loss. That helps the claim and the next repair.
- Keep the test dates in one folder
- Keep the photographs with the dates
- Keep the plumber's notes with the house papers
- Review the checklist each year
- Review it again after any loss
Understanding how a backup reaches the basement
A backup rises from the sewer line through the lowest drain, so the drain and the line matter most.
A sewer backup starts in the public sewer or the building's own line and rises to the lowest point in the house. In a basement that point is usually a floor drain, a laundry drain or a toilet on the lower level. When the line is full during a storm, the water finds the easiest way up, which is often the drain closest to the floor.
Knowing that path explains the checklist. The drain, the line leading to it and any device fitted to stop backflow are the parts to check, because they are the path the water takes.
- The floor drain closest to the lowest point
- Laundry and utility drains on the lower level
- Toilets and tubs on the lower level
- The building's own line and its cleanouts
- Any backflow device fitted on the line
Clearing the line and the cleanouts
Clear the cleanouts and have the line checked by a plumber where it runs slowly.
A slow drain is a warning. A line that drains slowly in normal use is more likely to back up in a storm. Check each cleanout is accessible and not covered, and clear any drain that runs slowly. A plumber can scope the line and show where a root, a belly or a blockage is.
Do not pour fats, wipes or heavy debris down a lower-level drain. Those build up in the line and reduce the flow that a storm needs.
- Find each cleanout and check it is not covered
- Clear any drain that runs slowly
- Ask a plumber to scope the line if it is slow
- Avoid fats, wipes and heavy debris in drains
- Keep a record of each clearing with the date
What to do in the first hour of a backup
Stop the flow if it can be stopped safely, keep people out of the water and call the line.
If a backup starts, do not run any water down the drains, including the shower and the washing machine. Keep people and pets out of the water, and switch off power to the lower level at a dry panel if it is safe. Call the 24/7 line and give the address and the source.
The crew will extract the water and record the cause. The homeowner's record of the first hour, with the time and the photographs, helps the crew and any later claim.
- Do not run water down any drain
- Keep people and pets out of the water
- Switch off power to the lower level if it is safe
- Call the 24/7 line and give the source
- Photograph the water line with the time
Planning for the next storm season
Each spring, plan the checks, the repairs and the records in one list, and set a date for each.
A checklist is more useful when it becomes a plan with dates. Each spring, decide the month for the pump test, the drain check and the window well clearing, and write those dates on the calendar. A repair found in a check should be booked with a plumber before the next storm season, not after it.
Keep the plan with the house papers. A homeowner who can show a plan, its dates and the work done has a clear account of care, which helps with the insurer and with a later repair.
- Set a month for the pump test
- Set a month for the drain and cleanout check
- Set a month for clearing the window wells
- Book any repair before storm season
- Keep the plan with the house papers
Frequently asked questions
How often should I test the sump?
Before storm season and again after any power cut. A pour test shows whether the pump and the float work.
Is a backwater valve a repair I can do myself?
No. A plumber should advise on and fit a backwater valve, and the plumber should confirm it works.
Do I need to clear the window wells in winter?
Yes, where snow and ice can block the drain or the cover. Check them after each heavy snow.
Will this checklist prevent every backup?
No. It reduces the chance and makes any loss easier to manage. It does not replace a plumber's advice.
What if a drain backs up anyway?
Call the 24/7 line and keep the water out of powered rooms. A crew will extract the water and record the cause.
Should I tell the insurer about the checklist?
Keep the record of the checklist with the house papers. Ask the insurer in writing whether it asks for any particular protection.
Sources
This guide is general information for Milwaukee County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.