Flooded Basements: What You Need to Know for Keeping Water Out, Cleaning Up

Updated: 06/18/2014 9:48 PM Created: 06/18/2014 5:01 PM KSTP.com By: Jessica Miles

With so much standing water everywhere after the recent rain, a lot of people are dealing with flooded basements.

To avoid that, experts recommend keeping water away from your house by using a tube that you can connect to your gutter system or downspout. It expands and pushes water away from your foundation.

A sump pump keeps water out of your basement, but check the float. It should kick on when you lift up on the float. If not, you may need a new sump.

If you get water inside your house, watch for mold.

"That's a big problem, you don't want mold in your basement. With a test kit like this you take a little swab, and if in 48 hours you have these little black spots you have mold," said Mike Frattallone with Frattallone's Ace Hardware in St. Paul.

If you have mold, bleach and water work to clean non-porous surfaces, but try other cleaners for things like wallboard and concrete.

Get more tips on how to deal with flooding here.

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Flooded Basements: What You Need to Know for Keeping Water Out, Cleaning Up