The flooded basement is the bane of every homeowner's existence. There is no worse feeling then going downstairs and seeing a puddle. The puddle is like a personal affront as you watch it spread from the wall to the center of the cellar. There are a few things you can do to either nip it in the bud or if it's already past that point to move forward with the flooded basement water removal process.
If you buy a home in San Francisco, CA , one of the most important things to do is make sure the foundation is solid. If possible try to arrange to see the basement after a heavy rain because even the most detailed home inspection can miss a seepage point if the weather has been dry for long enough. If the seller is reluctant to allow you to come into the basement after a rain then you should immediately reconsider putting in an offer on that particular house.
If you have seen the basement and there is a spot that gets wet when the rains come do something about it he very first time you notice. By putting it off you are guaranteeing a messy and expensive flooded basement cleanup project. As soon as you see a wet spot on a cellar wall then you know there is a problem somewhere. It will not go away it's only going to get worse. If re-structuring the foundation of your house is not financially possible then the next best thing to do is to buy a sump pump and place it in the lowest point of the cellar. At least by doing this you are ensuring that some water removal will take place before the flooding gets out of hand.
If you are like most people your basement is the place where things not quite ready to be discarded go to live. To make sure they do not turn out as flooded basement in the event of a flood place everything at least three inches off of the floor. This height will ensure that if you do wind up with a flooded basement at least most of your belongings won't be destroyed outright. Then even if it becomes a flooded basement, and the sump pump works, the flood damage clean up won't turn into a massive water damage restoration process. The basement is like the doorway to the rest of your house. If water can get in there and it rising like floods do, then the water will flow into your home.
Another way that a flooded basement can be averted is to make sure the basement windows are secure. The windows should be able to be closed tightly and snug against the wall. If there are any gaps there are several spray foam products that can seal the gaps. Your basement is the most important part of your San Francisco home. Your heating system, electrical system, and family belongings are all stored down there. Taking steps to prevent water damage sooner rather than later can keep all of the nasty things that water can do from happening to your vital home systems.