The Top 5 Causes of a Flooded Basement in Atlanta

8/4/2021 (Permalink)

Contact the professionals at SERVPRO for water extraction services!

A flooded basement needs to be mitigated by certified professionals that are experienced in water mitigation.

Flooded basements are among the most common disasters homeowners face and can be caused by many different reasons. The good news is that you can take steps to help prevent basement floods from happening in the first place! In this blog post, we will talk about 5 common causes of a flooded basement and what you can do to prevent a flood from occurring.

A common scenario

In many cases, we have witnessed homeowners that went on vacation only to come back to find their basement with over a foot of standing water. A flooded basement can be stressful for a homeowner, especially when they have never had to deal with water damage to their home before.

The 5 causes of flooding

1) Water supply line failures (damaged pipes)

A pipe burst or broken sewage line is one of the leading causes of a flooded basement. Water supply lines have been known to burst, especially in colder temperatures. When a pipe bursts, the home's basement may be left with many gallons of water damage.

Most of the time, it will be nearly impossible to know when a pipe will malfunction. However, if you live in an older home, you should consider getting your pipes checked to ensure they are in quality working condition.

2) Storm drainage issues (faulty gutters & downspouts)

Storm damage issues like faulty gutters or damaged downspouts can cause basement water damage. Gutters and downspouts are essential to divert water away from a house. When the gutters or downspouts are broken or clogged, water will tend to pool near the house and may seep into the basement.

To ensure that a basement flood does not occur from storm drainage issues, you should check the gutters and downspouts for damages and clogs once a month.  

3) Foundation leaks 

A foundation leak will occur when basement tiles and the foundation are not properly sealed. A home's basement is susceptible to water damage when there is a foundation crack underground. Excess rainwater will enter through the foundation crack and enter a home leading to a flooded basement.

If you believe that your basement's foundation has poor sealing or a noticeable crack, call a foundation repair company to come out and reseal your basement's foundation. 

4) Malfunctioning sump pumps

A sump pump is used to pump out excess water from a basement during a flood. When damaged, the excess water in the basement home will fill up the sump pump but not pump the water outdoors, leading to a flooded basement.

The best way to avoid a sump pump malfunction is to check your sump pump monthly to ensure that it is in well-functioning condition and free of all excess debris.

5) Hot water tank failure

A hot water tank failure is another cause of a basement flood. The best way to avoid a hot water tank failure is to have your hot water tank tested and maintained by a qualified service technician every six months.

What to do when you have a flooded basement?

The best course of action is to call the professionals at SERVPRO of Downtown Atlanta when your basement has standing water. The professionals at SERVPRO are all IICRC certified and have experience in handling all-size residential and commercial water damage disasters. As soon as we receive your call, we will quickly deploy a team to your property and help you start getting your home and life back together.

Please contact us today for further questions on how we can help you with your home insurance claim.