Flash Flood Basement Extraction in Milwaukee, WI

Why a flash flood is faster than a pipe leak

Flash flood water arrives in volume and can stand deep in minutes, so the first hour is about the power and the outlet of the water.

A pipe leak adds water slowly, and a crew has time to find the source. A flash flood adds water quickly from several places at once, and the lowest room can fill faster than anyone can respond. The crew therefore starts by assessing the power and the depth, because those decide what it can safely do.

Once the power is confirmed off, the crew works the water out as fast as its equipment allows. It measures the depth at the lowest point and records the time, which is the record the scope needs for the rest of the job.

Where the water came in

The entry point is traced from the lowest wall, the window wells and the floor drain.

Flash flood water enters a basement at more than one place. The crew looks at the wall joints, the window wells, the door sills and the floor drain, and it notes each place that shows water or staining. The entry points are written into the scope, so a later repair can address each one.

The homeowner can help by photographing each entry point before anything is cleaned. The photograph shows where the water came in on the day, and it is the best evidence of cause.

• Wall joints at the lowest point of the foundation
• Window wells that have filled to the sill
• Door sills and gaps beneath outside doors
• Floor drains connected to a line that backed up
• Stairs and walls that show a water line

Drying a basement after a flash flood

Drying follows the extraction, and the target is set from readings in the subfloor and the wall base.

Once the water is out, the crew removes the wet material that cannot be saved and sets the drying equipment. The drying target is written into the scope, and it is checked on each visit. A basement can look dry on the surface while the subfloor and the wall cavity are still wet, so the readings are the only reliable check.

A basement that stays cool and damp will dry slowly. The crew sets the equipment for the room and records the temperature and humidity on each visit, so a slow reading can be explained.

• Remove carpet, pad and lower drywall that held the water
• Set equipment for the materials named in the scope
• Read the subfloor and wall base on each visit
• Record temperature and humidity on each visit
• Hold the scope until the target is reached

Storms and the window well question

Window wells and their covers are a common entry point, and the crew notes their condition in the scope.

A window well that fills during a storm can push water through a gap around the window, and the crew checks the seal and the cover. The condition of the well, its drain and its cover is recorded, so the homeowner can decide what to fix. The crew does not repair the well, but it records what it found.

A homeowner who wants to reduce the risk can ask a contractor about covers, drains and sealing. The scope gives the starting point for that conversation.

• Note the depth of water in each window well
• Check the seal around the window frame
• Check the well's drain and cover
• Photograph the well before and after the storm
• Hand the list to a contractor for advice

Handling the water after the storm passes

Once the storm has passed, the water is worked out in stages and the readings show what is left.

A flash flood does not end when the rain stops. The water in a basement drains back out slowly, and it can keep the lower walls wet for hours. The crew works the water out in stages, measuring the depth after each stage, so the homeowner can see the progress and the scope can show the volume.

The crew also checks the floor drain and the sump during this stage. A drain that is still taking water back in can refill the basement after it has been pumped, and the crew notes that in the scope.

• Work the water out in stages and measure each stage
• Check the floor drain for flow back into the basement
• Check the sump and its discharge
• Read the lower walls after the water is gone
• Record the time each stage was completed