Tips for protecting your stuff in the basement

Sofas, mattresses, books and clothes were just a few of the waterlogged possessions put to curbs after floods ravaged some suburbs this month.

Many of those belongings had been in basements that filled with water. Many were irreplaceable.

Matt Staley, an insurance agent with AAA Insurance in Arlington Heights, said possessions that aren't replaceable should never be kept in a basement.

That includes important documents and items such as collectibles and family photos.

If you're going to store things in a basement, Staley recommends using plastic bins and not cardboard boxes.

"Plastic is always much more resistant to water and mold," Staley said.

Whenever possible, those bins should be stored on shelves or in other elevated locations. Higher basement areas are better for storage, and try to avoid putting items near windows or window wells.

Staley also recommended taking a few steps to prevent basement flooding, such as installing a battery-operated backup sump pump and examining basement walls for cracks or gaps in the house foundation.

Homeowners should also remember that basement flooding isn't always caused by rain. Clogged pipes and drains can be culprits, too, AAA spokeswoman Beth Mosher said.

"So make sure those are properly working," she said, "and if you sense there is a back up, don't wait to get it fixed."