The routine, in order
- Stay safe. If water is near outlets, appliances or the breaker panel, stay out of the water entirely. Cut basement power at the panel only if you can stand on dry floor to do it. Otherwise call Elexicon Energy, the local electricity distributor, or 911.
- Identify the source. Clear water rising around walls suggests groundwater or a failed sump. Murky water welling from the floor drain means sewage is backing up.
- Stop what you can. If a pipe burst, shut the main shut-off. If sewage is backing up, stop using all water in the home: no flushing, laundry or showers.
- Check the sump pump. Is it running? Is the float stuck? Is the discharge line frozen or blocked outside?
- Document everything. Take photos and video of water levels, damaged items and the source before cleaning up. Insurers will ask.
- Call your insurer and find out what is covered and if they send their own contractor.
- Report a street-wide problem. If neighbours are flooding too, or water is coming from the road, notify the City of Pickering and Durham Region.
- Start drying. Move belongings out, remove wet rugs, and run fans and dehumidifiers once it is safe. Drywall and insulation soaked by sewage generally need to be removed.
Job note: wear rubber boots and gloves around any water from a floor drain. Sewage carries bacteria; keep children and pets away until it is cleaned and disinfected.
Why this matters in Pickering
Pickering sees most basement water during the spring thaw, when snowmelt and rain arrive on frozen or saturated clay, and during intense summer thunderstorms that overwhelm storm systems. Water can come from three directions: groundwater through the foundation, surface water through window wells and cracks, or sewage backing up through the floor drain. Knowing which one you are dealing with changes what you do next.
Call us if the sump pump has failed, if a pipe burst, or if sewage backed up through the floor drain.
Slips worth avoiding
- Wading into water while the basement circuits are live
- Pumping out a basement too quickly when the ground outside is still saturated, which can stress foundation walls
- Throwing out damaged items before photographing them
- Running the washing machine or dishwasher during a backup
- Assuming it will not happen again without finding the cause
Time to ring a plumber
Call us if the sump pump has failed, if a pipe burst, or if sewage backed up through the floor drain. Once the water is gone, the useful questions are why it happened and how to stop a repeat. A camera inspection shows whether roots or a collapse caused a backup. A backwater valve helps protect against sewage coming back from the street, and a battery backup sump pump covers pump or power failures. Durham Region and the City of Pickering have at times offered help with flood-protection devices; see our subsidy note and check the current terms. Also read sewer backup insurance to know what your policy covers before the next storm.
Questions callers ask
Will my insurance cover a flooded basement?
It depends on your coverage and the cause. Sewer backup and overland flood are often separate coverages. Call your insurer and read our sewer backup insurance note.
How do I tell a sewer backup from groundwater?
Water from a sewer backup comes up through the floor drain or toilets and is usually dirty and smelly. Groundwater tends to appear along walls or around the floor edges and is clearer.
Should I pump the water out right away?
Remove standing water once it is safe, but if the ground outside is saturated, pump down gradually and ask a professional if water is deep.