Water Pump Out (continued)
- Remove roughly a third of the water, pumping out about two to three feet of flood water. You want to wait now and make sure there is not more water leaking in from outside the basement walls, so put a mark on the wall at the current level and wait until the next day.
- Once a night has passed, check the water level. It should not have gone up. If it did you cannot yet pump out the basement. Mark the new risen level and again wait overnight.
- The next day pump out the water another two to three feet.
- Mark the wall and check the level the following day.
- Once the water stops rising, pump down two to three feet. Wait overnight to make sure the water did not rise. Repeat until all the water is drained from the basement.
- Don't think the draining has to happen all at once. It will likely take several days and should not be rushed. The damage has been done to the water logged items in your basement and the extra day or two won't make much difference.
- If at any time you notice any sign of structural failure in the walls or slab such as more pronounced cracking or any buckling, stop draining immediately as the water outside the basement has not drained and is causing excessive pressure on the structure.
