Pumping Water from a Flooded Basement

Not only in the summer months do weather fluctuations annually cause the flooding of many basement areas. The cause can be rising groundwater, a flood, or, for example, a sudden torrential rain. To restore healthy and safe conditions in the house, a whole series of actions must be taken.

We have written down for you how to proceed step by step when pumping water from a flooded basement.

Choosing a Pump

The first and most important step is choosing a pump.

If the basement is full of contaminated water, we recommend using a sludge pump, which is more robust and designed for pumping liquids containing fibrous and solid mechanical impurities. The suction basket of sludge pumps can be easily dismantled and cleaned without the use of special tools. In the case of excessively contaminated water, it is necessary to use pumps equipped with rotating cutting blades to process mechanical admixtures.

How to Choose a Sludge Pump

Once you have selected the pump, it is also necessary to acquire other necessary accessories.

To help you, we have assembled a fully equipped flood set containing everything needed for the immediate pumping of a flooded basement.

The sets consist of a Grundfos sludge pump, made using high-quality corrosion-resistant steel. Another option is Wilo pumps, capable of pumping water down to a height of 2 mm. All pumps are equipped with a float that serves as protection against dry running, a 20-meter long hose, KAMLOK quick couplings, and a suction box that serves as a coarse pre-filter before the pump.

Complete Range of Sludge Pumps

How to Properly Pump Water from a Flooded Basement?

Patience pays off.

Do not rush with the start of pumping, the correct procedure can take several days. The groundwater, which is all around the flooded basement, presses against the house's foundations from the outside. The water inside exerts an opposite force against it. In the case of rapid pumping of the liquid inside, there is a risk of collapsing walls and the very foundations of the house. To avoid disrupting the foundations and walls, the following steps must be followed:

Start pumping only when the water level drops below ground level.
If you own our flood set, connect the hose to the pump using the KAMLOK quick coupling.
Return the pump to the crate, but remove the float from it.
Lead the hose out of the basement and throw the flood set into the water.
Plug the pump into the electrical network, being careful not to stand in the water with your feet.
Pump the water to a level of 70 to 100 cm from the floor. Mark this level on the wall and wait until the next day.
If the level rises the next day, it is still too early for pumping. The surrounding soil is still too saturated with water. Pump again to a height of 70 to 100 cm and wait again.
If the level stops rising, pump the remaining 70-100 cm and wait overnight. Ensure that the water no longer returns and the level does not rise.

After pumping out all the water, it is necessary to thoroughly dry the flooded part of the house and prevent the spread of mold.

Complete Range of Sludge Pumps