The purpose of a sump pump is to keep water from flooding your basement. When a sump pump decides to break down, or when electricity is knocked out by a storm, the machine cannot complete the one task it's built for. You are then stuck with a flood in your basement and no way to remove the standing water.

When the floodwater is in your home, you need a fix to remove the overflow, and you need one fast! Standing water is the perfect storm for mold and mildew, which can lead to many different problems, including respiratory issues, not to mention structural damage if left untreated for long periods of time. Then there's the damage the water can do on its own. It's best to remove the water before too much damage happens.

The good news is that Chicago residents have a 24/7 solution to water damage problems. McMahon Services emergency teams are ready to help whenever water damage strikes. While you wait for our experts to arrive, here are a few things you can do to remove the water from your basement quickly.

Use A Mop

It may seem like an obvious solution, but a standard household mop is a great place to start. Grab a bucket and begin to sop up the water and dump the buckets outside, away from your home. If the water is particularly deep to start with, you can begin by actually scooping out the water with the bucket, and mopping up any remaining water after that. Empty the full buckets of water at least 20 feet from your home so the water does not return!

Use a Handpump

A handpump does not require any electricity and can be used for larger flooding jobs. This pump will require access to the sump pump hold and will plug directly into the unit. A garden hose will then be threaded onto the other end, and that's it! The water is now ready to be sent from your basement and into your yard.

Use a Wet/Dry Vac

If your sump pump has decided it is on its last leg and has stopped working, but you still have electricity to your home, a wet/dry vac is a great option to remove any water from your basement. Plugin the vac and start sucking up the water as you go. Work your way through the room to the sump pit until all the water is gone.

Bring in a Generator

If you have access to a generator, it is perfect for a situation like this. If there is no electricity, and no working sump pump, a generator can be used to power the sump pump and start the draining process. The generator can also power a wet vac until the professionals arrive. Always be sure the generator is charged, gassed up, and ready to go in case of an emergency!

Use a Trash-Water Pump

Typically used for large emergency jobs, trash-water pumps can be brought in to remove gallons of water quickly. While the average person will not have access to a pump this size, when we arrive on the scene to begin the water removal process, our McMahon Services experts may utilize a trash-water pump to get the water out as quickly as possible.

A sump pump is the first line of defense against flooding in your home. Sometimes though, sump pumps can stop working due to mechanical failure or power outages. That's when we come in. If you're in the northern Illinois area and find yourself with a flooded basement and water damage – don't panic.

Call McMahon Services and Construction at 847-566-4568 for your restoration and construction needsOur water restoration services include water removal, inspection for mold and mildew, loss damage evaluation, and set up for repairs, rebuilds, etc. We want to get you and your home back to normal as quickly as possible, so call us today for all of our restoration services.