Basement water damage is the cleanup of a below-grade space after water gets in. In Littleton, CO, the basement is the most common place for water, because it sits lowest, touches the soil and holds the water heater, the sump and many plumbing runs.
Water enters through window wells, foundation cracks, failed sump pumps, plumbing breaks, sewer backups and groundwater after snowmelt. We clean up and dry the space. We do not waterproof, so a drainage or waterproofing contractor handles the entry point.
Start by naming the water
Water type decides how much comes out. A broken supply line gives clean water that many materials survive if you act fast. Groundwater and storm water carry soil and bacteria, which pushes the job toward flood damage restoration.
Sewage is the most serious case. If a floor drain is backing up, read sewage backup cleanup and keep everyone out of the space.
| Source | Water type | Likely outcome for materials |
|---|---|---|
| Supply line or water heater | Clean at first | Carpet and drywall can often be dried |
| Window well or seepage | Groundwater, contaminated | Pad and low drywall usually removed |
| Sump pump failure | Groundwater | Depends on depth and time |
| Floor drain or sewer backup | Sewage | Porous materials removed and sanitized |
| Snowmelt through foundation | Groundwater | Dry or remove based on readings |
Basement flooding safety in the first hour
- Stay out of standing water until power to the area is off. Cut it from the panel only if you can reach it dry.
- Close the main water valve if a pipe or heater is the source.
- Keep children and pets out of the space.
- Move anything valuable off the floor to a dry spot, but do not carry wet furniture through the house.
- Call us and your insurer, and photograph the damage before anything is moved.
The 24 to 48 hour window
Mold can begin on damp materials in roughly 24 to 48 hours. Pulling wet carpet pad and drying the slab early is the best way to keep a wet basement from turning into a mold job.
How we clean up a wet basement
Extract the water
Truck-mounted or portable extraction units remove standing water from the slab and carpet.
Remove the unsalvageable
Carpet pad, baseboards, insulation and the bottom two feet of wet drywall usually go first.
Clean and sanitize
The slab and framing are cleaned, and antimicrobial treatment is used where the water type calls for it.
Dry and verify
Air movers and dehumidifiers run while moisture meters and thermal cameras confirm progress.
Drying below grade is slow because concrete and soil keep releasing moisture. A finished basement has more to remove and a longer path to dry than a bare one, and stored boxes on the floor should be sorted early. Cardboard soaks fast and holds odor.
Water in the basement right now? Call the 24/7 line and tell us what it touched.
Call (303) 952-8295What changes the cost of basement cleanup
- Finished or unfinished, and how much drywall and flooring is wet.
- Water type, clean, groundwater or sewage.
- Depth and how long the water sat.
- Stored belongings that need to be moved or sorted.
- Days of drying needed to reach target readings.
We walk through the scope and price before work begins, and we mark what is cleanup and what is rebuild.
Insurance and prevention
FEMA's NFIP site notes a typical 30 day wait before a new flood policy takes effect, and most homeowners policies do not cover flood. A burst pipe is a different case and is generally covered, so tell your insurer how the water got in.
Prevention starts outside. Keep gutters clear, point downspouts away from the foundation, check the sump pump before spring melt and test the battery backup. Fixing the grading is a drainage trade's job.
Littleton, CO: floodplains, soils and sewers
Littleton has FEMA and local floodplains, and work inside one needs a Floodplain Development Permit. The city's floodplain administrator can be reached at 303-795-3863, so call before you hire anyone to dig or regrade near a creek.
The Colorado Geological Survey says cracked basement floor slabs are among the common signs of soil movement, and expansive clay swells when wet. A new crack in the slab is worth showing to a foundation specialist.
For sewer backups, the City of Littleton handles emergencies at 303-795-3959 on weekdays and 303-794-1551 after hours. Confirm which district serves your address, since some areas are served by other sanitation districts.
Sources: City of Littleton floodplain and Utilities pages, Colorado Geological Survey, FEMA NFIP site.
We also dispatch to Englewood and southwest Denver for basement calls. Moisture left behind can lead to mold remediation, and water damage cleanup covers the sanitizing steps.
Common questions
Yes. Water in a basement is a reason to call at any hour, since carpet, pad and drywall start soaking at once. A crew is sent when one is free, without a promised time, and the dispatcher helps you decide what to move upstairs.
No. We clean up and dry. If water keeps coming in, a drainage or waterproofing contractor has to fix the entry point.
It depends on the water type and how high it wicked. Often the bottom two feet comes out, and the rest is checked with moisture meters.
Carpet from a clean source can sometimes be dried in place. Pad is almost always replaced, and carpet touched by groundwater or sewage is usually removed.
Call the city's sewer line at 303-795-3959 on weekdays or 303-794-1551 after hours, and confirm which district serves your address. Then call us for the cleanup.