The hazard you cannot see
A flooded basement can look calm while hiding a shock risk. Water conducts electricity, and outlets, power strips, a freezer, a furnace and a water heater all sit low in many Wheat Ridge basements. If any wiring is wet and still live, stepping into the water completes a path to the ground. People are injured this way each year, usually while trying to rescue stored items.
Gas adds a second hazard. A water heater or furnace in a flooded utility room can have a pilot or burner that is submerged, and floodwater can damage gas controls. If you smell gas, do not flip switches. Leave, and call from outside.
Read this list before stepping in
- Find the main electrical panel and check whether it is in a dry area you can reach without wading.
- If the panel is dry, turn off the breakers serving the flooded space, or the main breaker if unsure.
- If the panel is in the water or the floor is wet around it, do not touch it. Call the electric utility or emergency services.
- Look for sparks, buzzing, a burning smell or lights that flicker.
- Check that no extension cords run through the water.
- Smell for gas near the water heater and furnace; leave if you notice it.
- Open a door or window if you suspect fumes, but only if the route to it is dry.
What to do in common situations
- IfWater is only on the floor and the panel is dry and reachableThenSwitch off the breakers for that area, then use cords from a safe dry outlet upstairs.
- IfWater is deeper than outlet heightThenStay out. The wiring in the wall is likely wet. Have the utility or an electrician disconnect it.
- IfFurnace or water heater is partly submergedThenDo not relight or restart. Wait for an inspection before use, because water damages gas valves and controls.
- IfCarbon monoxide alarm soundsThenGet everyone outside and call 911. Never silence it and go back inside.
After the water is out
Having the electrical system inspected after a flood is cheap compared with a fire. Outlets that were submerged may corrode, and breakers that were wet can fail in ways that only show up later. Furnaces and water heaters that stood in water are generally inspected or replaced before returning to use.
Document the condition of appliances with photographs before they are moved. That helps with insurance, and it gives anyone inspecting them a record of how high the water reached.
Common questions
Is a ground fault outlet enough protection?
It reduces risk, but it does not make it safe to stand in a flooded room with live wiring. Treat water at outlet height as a stop sign.
Who shuts off electricity if my panel is wet?
The electric utility serving your address can disconnect service at the meter. Contact them or emergency services rather than touching the panel.
General information for Wheat Ridge, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.