You go down again to the basement to look for that old painting that your mother told you to get, when that same old feeling surrounded your cramped feet, yes, feet. It's that flooded basement again. This time you have no choice. Either you clean up the mess yourself fast before it starts to destroy all your priced possessions down there or call a professional real quick.

Underground structures are really prone to water damage. You don't need a Hurricane Katrina or the Nile River overflowing just to get a flooded basement. In fact, a flooded basement often occurs due to water build up in the surrounding soil. Even worse, flooded basements could cause major disasters both with your health and in your pocket.

An old adage says prevention is way better than a cure. So in a dreadful instance like that of a flooded basement, what is the best ways to prevent it? Here's the answers:

Use a waterproof coating using the manufacturer's spread rate specifications for your block walls. If water seepage and flooded basement still persists after the first application, you may consider applying a second coat. Waterproof coating is made to block water passing through due to hydrostatic pressure or the pressure caused by water in the soil which could include the water table, rain runoff flowing toward your home underground, or even your home's own gutter system.

You could also assure that you would no longer have a flooded basement if you fix obvious leaks, ensure proper drainage, and install a sump pump. Some leaks usually don't originate down there, more often it came from, say the leaking toilet above.

Also, be wary about the faulty gutter system, it is a surefire cause of a flooded basement. When rainwater is not draining properly or your gutter system is highly defective that it is collecting in the soil that's pressing against your basement walls, that is the time when you usually get a flooded basement. Always check your home's gutters and that they are draining properly - away from the foundation and basement.

In order to prevent too a flooded basement, a sump pump is recommended. Here is where the sump pump enters; it acts to remove water from the lowest sections of the basement, even below the basement floor. The sump pump kicks in when the water reaches a "critical" level and begins pumping the water out. The water is pumped through a pipe that diverts it away from your home's foundation and basement.

There is also a wide range of sump pump available in the market. There are some activated once afloat, designed to work underwater and a few others should not get wet.

All sump pumps, regarding of kind, have a "check valve." This prevents water from flowing back in once the pumping is complete. Otherwise, the water will come right back in, trigger the sump pump, and create an endless pumping cycle.

Moreover, you could also solicit advice from a flood control professional who could visit your home when you need them to and yes, address your flooded basement.