Situation 1
Summer storm and a clogged window well
A heavy afternoon thunderstorm fills a leaf-clogged window well, and water pours into a finished basement bedroom.
Standing water removal · Basement drying
Flooded Basement Cleanup in Englewood
What it takes to pump out standing water, dry concrete, framing, and finishes, and restore the basement in Englewood's older bungalows and mid-century homes.
An Arapahoe County guide to flooded basements: what to do first and what to ask before cleanup starts.
Basement floods in Englewood homes
Situation 2
Water heater failure in a bungalow
The water heater in a 1940s bungalow's unfinished basement fails, flooding the floor and soaking stored belongings.
Situation 3
Sump pump quits during a storm
A power outage during a storm stops the sump pump, and groundwater rises through the slab of a finished family room.
Where is the water coming from?
The source decides how the basement is cleaned, what can be dried, and what has to be fixed so it doesn't happen again.
Look at the water and where it's entering
Supply leak
Clue: Clear water, running or spraying, near a pipe, water heater, washer or fixture. Often happens any time, regardless of weather.
What it means: Clean water (Category 1) if caught quickly. Shut off the main valve.
Long-term fix: Plumber repairs the line; extraction and drying can often save drywall and framing.
Groundwater
Clue: Water seeping along the floor-wall joint, through cracks or window wells, usually during or after heavy rain or snowmelt.
What it means: Outside water carries soil and contaminants (at least Category 2). It will come back next storm unless drainage is fixed.
Long-term fix: Dry the basement, then address gutters, downspouts, grading, window wells or a sump system.
Drain backup
Clue: Water coming up through the floor drain, toilet or tub, often dark and smelly.
What it means: Sewage (Category 3). Stop using water in the house and keep people out.
Long-term fix: Sewer line cleared by a plumber; porous materials it touched are removed, not dried.
Getting a flooded basement back to dry
Basements flood for a few main reasons: heavy rain or snowmelt overwhelming drainage, sump pump failure, a burst pipe or water heater, or a sewer backup. Each brings different water and a different cleanup. Clean water from a pipe allows more to be saved, while groundwater and sewer water require removing more material.
Whatever the source, the job is the same in outline: pump out standing water, remove what can't be dried, dry the concrete, framing, and remaining finishes with commercial equipment, confirm with moisture readings, then rebuild.
Common causes of basement flooding
- Downspouts and grading that send roof water toward the foundation.
- Window wells without working drains filling during storms.
- Sump pump failure during power outages or when the pump wears out.
- Water heater, washing machine, or supply-line failures.
- Sewer backups through floor drains.
Clean water from a pipe allows more to be saved, while groundwater and sewer water require removing more material.
What to do right now
- 1Don't wade into water if outlets, cords, or appliances are submerged; call your utility or an electrician to cut power safely.
- 2Find and stop the source if you can, whether that's a water heater, pipe, or failed sump pump.
- 3Move belongings to a dry area and take photos.
- 4Call your insurer, then a water damage company you have checked to start pumping and drying.
Drying guidance for basements
- Pull the pad, not always the carpet. Carpet pad soaks up water and rarely dries; carpet over a clean-water leak sometimes can be saved.
- Open what traps water. Baseboards come off and drywall may be cut a little above the wet line so the wall cavity dries.
- Dehumidify, don't just blow air. Fans move moisture around; dehumidifiers take it out of the house.
- Measure before rebuilding. Slab, framing and drywall readings should match dry areas before anything is closed up.
Englewood basements
Englewood is an older inner-ring suburb directly south of Denver in Arapahoe County, with many homes built from the 1920s through the 1950s: brick bungalows, small cottages, and post-war ranches, many with basements that were finished long after construction. The South Platte River runs along the city's western edge.
Older homes can have aging foundations, original sewer lines, and window wells that were never designed for finished living space below. Summer thunderstorms along the Front Range can drop heavy rain quickly, and that's when many of these basements take on water.
- Many water damage companies serving Englewood are based elsewhere in the metro, so ask about travel time before you commit.
- Extend downspouts several feet from the foundation and keep window wells clear.
- Homes built before 1980 may contain asbestos in some basement flooring and pipe insulation; test before removal.
- Standard homeowners insurance usually excludes groundwater flooding; sudden pipe leaks are more often covered.
ZIP codes served: 80113 (Englewood), 80110 (Englewood).
Also nearby: 80210, 80236, 80121, 80223, 80222, 80120, 80219, 80209, 80237, 80123, 80224, 80246, 80122, 80235, 80231, 80203, 80218, 80206.
Basement flood cleanup steps
Most basement jobs follow this sequence; contaminated water adds removal and sanitizing steps.
- Step 1
Safety and source
Check electrical hazards, identify the source, and classify the water.
- Step 2
Pump and extract
Remove standing water with pumps and extraction equipment.
- Step 3
Remove wet finishes
Pull carpet pad, wet insulation, and lower drywall where they can't be dried.
- Step 4
Dry
Run dehumidifiers and air movers against walls and slab, monitoring moisture daily.
- Step 5
Restore
Rebuild walls and replace flooring once the basement is dry.
Go deeper on basement floods
Guides and tools on sources, drying and preventing the next one.
How it works18
- Water along the cove joint: why it seeps in where the floor meets the wall
- Sweating walls or water coming through? Telling condensation from seepage
- Window wells on older Englewood homes: why they fill and how they should drain
Worksheets9
- Where is the water coming from? A decision guide for a wet basement
- Room-by-room inventory for a flooded finished basement
- Window well inspection checklist for spring
Get help with a flooded basement
This form is not connected. This website is a draft preview: no business has been confirmed to receive requests, so the fields below are switched off and nothing can be sent. In an emergency, call 911.
Flooded basement questions
How fast does a flooded basement need to be dried?
As quickly as possible. Mold can begin to grow on damp materials within about 24 to 48 hours, and finishes like drywall and carpet keep absorbing water as long as it's present.
Can I use a shop vac to remove the water?
For small amounts of clean water, a wet/dry vacuum can help. For deeper water or large areas, professional pumps and extraction equipment remove water much faster, and drying equipment is still needed afterward.
Will my basement carpet have to be replaced?
Pad is almost always replaced. Carpet may be saved after a clean-water event if drying starts quickly; it's discarded after groundwater or sewage flooding.
Why does the concrete still feel damp after the water is gone?
Concrete absorbs water and releases it slowly. Dehumidifiers continue running until moisture readings in the slab and walls return to normal.
Does insurance cover basement flooding?
It depends on the cause. Sudden pipe or appliance failures are often covered; groundwater flooding generally requires separate flood insurance; sewer backups often require an endorsement. Check your policy.
How can I prevent another basement flood?
Keep gutters and downspouts clear and extended, slope soil away from the foundation, maintain window-well drains, test the sump pump, and consider a battery backup.
Why does a basement take longer to dry than a room upstairs?
Concrete holds a lot of water and releases it slowly, basements are cool (so evaporation is slower), and there's often less airflow. Dehumidifiers do most of the work. Readings are taken on the slab, framing and drywall, and finishes go back only after readings return to normal.