Claymont flooded basement cleanup

Many Claymont basement houses from the mid-twentieth century were built with block foundations and a simple floor drain. In long rains, especially nor'easters, which are most common from November through March ^[3], the soil around the foundation fills with water and pushes it through the block and along the floor joint. Without a sump, there is nothing to carry it away except the floor drain.

Homes close to Naamans Creek, where Claymont began ^[1], and the low riverfront can see outside water in heavy storms. Floor drains can also back up when sewer lines are overwhelmed.

Block walls hold water in their hollow cores. After a flood or long seepage, contractors may drill small weep holes at the base to drain them, then run dehumidifiers for days. Painted block may peel as it dries; repaint only once dry. Paneling or drywall over the block is usually removed so the wall can dry.

If your basement takes water in every long rain and has no sump, a waterproofing contractor can discuss interior drain tile and a sump pump. Before that, check the simple things: gutters, downspout extensions, and soil sloping away from the house.

Seepage is often treated as maintenance, drain backups often need an endorsement, and creek flooding needs flood insurance. Check DNREC's flood planning tool for your address ^[4] and read your policy. See working with your insurance adjuster.

Hard items are cleaned; soaked cardboard, paper and upholstered items are judged case by case after seepage and discarded after sewage or creek water ^[2]. Photograph everything first.

Removal usually takes a day; drying block and slab takes several more, often a week. Readings decide.

See flooded basement cleanup, sewage backup cleanup in Claymont and the Claymont area page.

Water heaters, furnaces and washers in flooded basements should be checked by qualified technicians before use. Equipment that only had its feet in clean water is often fine; equipment that sat in creek water or sewage is often replaced.

If heat is out in winter, drying slows; ask the contractor how they will keep the basement warm enough to dry.

Many Claymont basements hold the laundry, often with a washer draining into a laundry tub. A burst supply hose, a clogged tub drain or a washer that overflows puts water across the basement floor quickly. This water starts as Category 1 or 2, so extraction and drying are usually enough for hard surfaces, but carpet and boxes on the floor still often go.

Braided supply hoses, closing the washer valves when not in use, and a water alarm on the floor beside the washer prevent most laundry floods.

A few older houses near Claymont's original village core have stone foundations and cellars rather than block basements. These are naturally damp, take on water more easily, and dry more slowly. For them, the goal after cleanup is to dry the house's finishes and framing and control humidity, rather than to make the stone completely dry. Keep valuables out of these cellars.

A flooded basement smells for days. Removing what soaked through, cleaning surfaces and drying fully clears most odor. A smell that remains after drying points to something still wet or contaminated.

Extend downspouts several feet from the foundation, keep gutters clear, make sure soil slopes away from the walls, seal gaps at basement windows, and keep storage on shelves in plastic bins. If floor drains back up in storms, ask a plumber about a backwater valve.

A water alarm on the basement floor gives early warning, which matters most in houses where nobody goes to the basement every day.

In rentals, report basement water to the landlord in writing and move your belongings; the owner normally arranges cleanup. In townhouses, basements may share walls, so tell neighbors and the association if water may have crossed.

Shared walls need drying from both sides, so neighbors may need to give the contractor access.

If the water came from a drain or the creek, wear rubber boots, waterproof gloves and eye protection if you must go down, and wash thoroughly afterward.

Older basement windows at ground level let water in when wells fill with rain and leaves. Clear the wells, add covers, and seal gaps around the frames. In a heavy storm, a window well can fill and pour water through a failed window in minutes, so check them before storm season along with the gutters.

A battery water alarm by the washer, water heater and floor drain sounds the moment water appears, which is a big help in a basement that nobody visits daily.

Photograph each area and keep a list of discarded items for your insurer.