Fort Collins Basement Flooding, Pumped Out and Dried Right

How Water Gets Down There

• Window wells. Low well edges let surface water pour straight in. The City recommends raising them.
• Downspouts and grading. Roof water dumped next to the foundation finds the basement.
• Street flooding. Older parts of town, including the downtown area, flood more readily than neighborhoods built after drainage standards came in during the 1980s.
• Clogged inlets. City guidance notes that inlets can clog with debris or hail, turning streets into stream channels.
• Sump and drain failures. A dead pump or a backed-up floor drain.

If It's Flooding Now

Following City guidance, move to upper floors if the water's rising and shut off electricity, water and gas before it reaches outlets or appliances. Don't wade into a basement with live power.

Our Basement Work

1. Pump the basement down and pull water from carpet.
2. Find the entry point so it can be fixed.
3. Take moisture readings in drywall, framing, the slab and foundation walls.
4. Remove pad, wet insulation and drywall above the water line.
5. Clean and disinfect if water came from outside or a drain.
6. Leave the drying setup running, with a Fort Collins moisture log updated daily.
7. Put the basement back together when the meters agree.

Lowering the Odds Next Time

The City suggests extending downspouts, keeping gutters clear, sloping soil away from the house and raising window-well edges. Fort Collins Utilities also offers free home visits with flood protection advice. And because 30 percent of flood claims come from outside the mapped floodplain, flood insurance is worth a look even if you're not in one.

Basements that stay damp can grow mold; see our Fort Collins mold remediation page. For the full picture, visit our Fort Collins water damage crew.