Emergency guide
Basement or lower-level flooding: what to do
Most Phoenix-metro homes are slab-on-grade, but finished lower levels, walk-out basements, and sunken living rooms do flood, from sewer backup, groundwater after heavy rain, or water traveling downhill on a slope lot. Treat any standing water as potentially contaminated until tested.
Do this in the next 10 minutes
- 1
Stay safe, assess contamination
Sewage, muddy water, or odor means Category 3 water. Keep children and pets away. Wear rubber boots and gloves if you must enter. Do not run HVAC, it spreads contaminants.
- 2
Stop inflow if possible
For appliance leaks, shut the valve. For sewer backup, stop using all drains and toilets in the house, call a plumber for the main line. For groundwater, sandbagging may help temporarily.
- 3
Call utilities if needed
If water reaches electrical outlets or the panel, shut off power to that level from a dry location. Gas appliances in flooded areas should be inspected before relighting.
- 4
Pump and extract, don't DIY large volumes
Shop vacs work for small clean-water spills only. Significant flooding needs truck-mounted extraction and antimicrobial treatment.
- 5
Document and call restoration
Lower levels dry slowly without commercial equipment. Concrete and block walls hold moisture; pros drill drying holes in baseboards and use specialized desiccant dehumidifiers when needed.
Slab homes vs. true basements
In Arizona, 'basement flooding' often means a sunken garage, finished lower walk-out, or storage room below grade. Water may enter through foundation cracks after sustained monsoon rain or poor grading. French drains and sump systems are uncommon here, so water has fewer exit paths.
Sewer backup is a health emergency
Category 3 water requires removal of porous materials, HEPA filtration, and often a separate remediation scope. Standard homeowners policies may offer limited sewer backup coverage, check your declarations page or endorsement.
When insurance applies
Sudden appliance failure is often covered. Groundwater seepage and sewer backup may require specific endorsements. Flood from outside rising water needs a separate NFIP flood policy.
FastDry helps classify the water category correctly on your claim, miscoding Category 3 as clean water is a common reason carriers deny payment.
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