What to Do When Your Basement Floods: Laurel, MD Guide

What to do when your basement floods guide graphic

Short answer: When your basement floods, stay out until the power to the basement is off, then find and stop the water source. Photograph everything, move valuables up, and get the water out and the space drying within 24 to 48 hours. If the water came from a sewer drain or outside, treat it as contaminated.

Coming down the stairs to find water on the basement floor is a gut punch. The good news is that what you do in the next few hours makes a big difference. Laurel Dry Pros handles flooded basement cleanup in Laurel every week, and this is the same checklist we give homeowners on the phone.

This is general information, not professional advice. If you smell gas or see sparks, leave the house and call 911.

Step 1: Make it safe

Water and electricity don't mix. Before you step in:

If water touches outlets, cords, the furnace or the water heater, stay out.
Turn off power to the basement at the main panel only if you can reach it without standing in water. If the panel is in the flooded basement, call the power company or an electrician.
If you smell gas, leave and call 911 and your gas company.
Wear rubber boots and gloves. Flood water can carry bacteria, chemicals and debris.

Step 2: Find and stop the source

Knowing where the water came from tells you how to stop it and how dirty it is.

Clue	Likely source	First move
Water near the water heater	Tank failure	Shut off the cold water to the tank and the gas or power
Spraying or running pipe	Burst pipe	Shut off the main water valve
Water around the sump pit	Pump failed or couldn't keep up	Check power to the pump. See our sump pump guide
Water coming up through the floor drain, foul smell	Sewer backup	Stop using water in the house. See sewage backup cleanup
Water along the wall-floor joint after rain	Ground water pressure	Clear gutters and downspouts; wait for rain to stop
Water under a window	Window well overflow	Clear the well drain, cover the well

Step 3: Document the damage

Before you move or toss anything, take photos and video of the water level, the source, the walls and every damaged item. Include close-ups of model numbers on appliances. Your insurer will ask for these.

Basement full of water? Call (301) 368-0221 and we'll bring pumps, extractors and dehumidifiers.

Call (301) 368-0221

Step 4: Protect your belongings

Move boxes, electronics, furniture, photos and papers to a dry floor. Prop wood furniture legs on blocks or foil. Pull up area rugs. Don't throw anything away yet if you plan to file a claim.

Step 5: Get the water out

For a little clean water on concrete, a wet vac and mops work. For anything more, you need a submersible pump and an extractor. Don't pump out a basement too fast if the ground outside is still saturated, since the pressure difference can damage walls. Professionals pump in stages when that's a risk.

Step 6: Dry within 24 to 48 hours

The EPA says wet materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold. To get there:

Pull up soaked carpet pad. It almost never dries in place.
Cut out drywall that soaked up water, usually 12 to 24 inches above the water line.
Remove wet insulation behind the drywall.
Run dehumidifiers and fans nonstop.
Keep windows closed if it's humid outside, so you're not pulling in more moisture.
Check moisture with a meter, not by touch. Drywall can feel dry and still be wet inside.

Step 7: Clean and disinfect

Wash hard surfaces with soap and water. If the water came from a sewer drain, the river or the street, it's Category 3, the most contaminated class. Porous items it touched, like carpet, upholstered furniture and drywall, should be thrown out. FEMA advises keeping children and pets away during cleanup.

Step 8: Call your insurer and the right pros

Call your insurance company soon. Call a plumber for broken pipes or sewer lines. Call a water damage company to extract, dry and document. If sewage came up a floor drain in a WSSC Water area, a WSSC-registered plumber can help figure out if the blockage is in your line or WSSC's.

Why does my basement flood when it rains?

Heavy rain soaks the soil around your foundation. That wet soil pushes water against the walls and floor, which is called hydrostatic pressure. Water finds the easiest path: cracks, the joint between the wall and floor, pipe openings and window wells. Clogged gutters, short downspouts and ground that slopes toward the house make it worse.

If this happens after every big storm, our guide to rain water in the basement helps you find the entry point.

How to prevent your basement from flooding

Clean gutters and extend downspouts at least 4 to 6 feet from the house.
Make sure the soil slopes away from the foundation.
Test your sump pump each season and add a battery backup.
Install window well covers and keep the drains clear.
Ask a plumber about a backflow valve on the main sewer line.
Seal visible cracks in foundation walls.
Keep valuables in plastic bins on shelves, not on the floor.
Put a water leak alarm near the sump pit and water heater.

Insurance: are you covered when your basement floods?

It depends on the cause. A burst pipe or failed water heater is often covered. Water from outside counts as a flood and isn't covered by a standard homeowners policy. Sump overflows and drain backups need a water/sewer backup endorsement. The Maryland Insurance Administration explains these rules on its website. Read our full Maryland water damage insurance guide.

Local note: Finished basements in Columbia and Burtonsville often rely on sump pumps that fail in summer storms. The lower levels of split-level homes in Beltsville take on water first. Older basements in Silver Spring can see seepage and drain backups during heavy rain.

Related reading: If the basement smells musty after it dries, see our guide to a musty smell in the basement. To get ready for big storms, read how to prepare for a flood in Laurel.

When should you call a basement flood professional?

Call a pro when water covers more than a small area, soaks carpet or drywall, touches the furnace or water heater, came from a sewer or the outdoors, or when you can't stop it. Also call if the basement still smells musty a few days later.

Basement flooded in Laurel? Call (301) 368-0221 to reach Laurel Dry Pros. We'll pump it out, dry it and help you find the cause.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my basement flooding?

The most common reasons are heavy rain soaking the soil around the foundation, a sump pump that failed or couldn't keep up, a burst pipe or water heater, clogged gutters or window wells, and sewer lines backing up during storms.

Does homeowners insurance cover basement flooding?

It depends on the cause. A burst pipe is often covered. Water from outside is flood damage and isn't covered by a standard policy. Sump overflows and drain backups need a water/sewer backup endorsement.

Can I use my shop vac to clean up a flooded basement?

For less than an inch of clean water on bare concrete, yes. For deeper water, soaked carpet or drywall, or dirty water, you'll need pumps, extractors and commercial dehumidifiers.

How long does it take to dry a basement?

Often three to five days with commercial dehumidifiers and air movers. Concrete and cold basements can take longer. Drying is done when moisture readings match unaffected areas.

Do renters need to worry about a flooded basement?

Yes. Report it to the landlord in writing right away. Renters insurance may cover your belongings, but like homeowners policies, it usually excludes outside flooding.

Sources

About this article. Written by Laurel Dry Pros Editorial and checked against the sources listed above. Last updated November 1, 2026. General information, not legal, insurance or professional advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer.

What to Do When Your Basement Floods