Safesite RestorationFlooded basement cleanup in Toronto
If your basement in Toronto is flooded right now, call us and a Safesite crew comes out day or night to pump it out and start drying.
Most of our 21 Google reviews are basement floods, and reviewers mention crews arriving within the hour, at 2 AM and 4 AM included.
Call (437) 998-2473
Before we get there
- If water is near outlets, a furnace or a power bar, stay out of it and shut the power off at the panel only if you can reach it dry.
- Shut the main water valve if a pipe or appliance is the source.
- Move what you can carry to a dry floor. Take photos of everything for your insurer.
What a basement flood cleanup includes
- Pumping out standing water and extracting it from carpet and underpad
- Removing wet drywall, insulation and flooring that can't be dried in place
- Air movers and dehumidifiers, with moisture readings on every visit until the structure tests dry
- Antimicrobial treatment and a mold check before anything gets closed up
- Photos and drying records for your insurance claim
- Repairs and rebuild once it's dry
Why Toronto basements flood
Most of the calls we get come from four causes: a burst or frozen pipe, a failed sump pump, a sewer backup during heavy rain, and water coming through foundation walls or floor drains in a storm. Older homes in Scarborough and North York with original plumbing see all four.
Sewer backup and overland water are often separate coverages on a home insurance policy, so check yours before you assume the claim is covered. We'll document the cause either way.
After it's dry: the City pays for prevention
The City of Toronto's Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program covers 80% of the cost of a backwater valve (up to $1,600 each), a sump pump (up to $2,250) and related work, up to $6,650 per property. It's open to owners of single-family homes up to fourplexes, for work done by a City-licensed contractor. Ask us which applies to the cause we found.
Questions
How long does a flooded basement take to dry?
It depends on how long the water sat and what it soaked into. We don't guess: we take readings each visit and remove the equipment only when the materials test dry.
Do I need to rip out the drywall?
Not always. Drywall that wicked water up from the floor usually has to be cut out to the wet line so the wall cavity can dry. Clean water caught early can sometimes be dried in place.
Will insurance cover it?
Burst pipes are usually covered. Sewer backup and overland water depend on your policy. We photograph and record everything so your adjuster has what they need.
Related: emergency water extraction and mold removal.