A basement flood is a serious problem that can cause a lot of damage to your property. Water can quickly seep through cracks in your plumbing or your home’s foundation, causing mold growth and flooding your home. This article will give you advice on how to deal with these types of issues!
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BASEMENT FLOODS
If you’ve had a basement flood, it can be hard to know what to do next. In addition to seeking emergency assistance and repairing the damage, you may also want to consider using a dehumidifier.
TURN OFF WATER & ELECTRICITY
After your basement floods, the first step should always be to turn off the water supply to your house and other utilities.
If the basement flood was caused by a burst pipe or sump pump failure, turning off the water should stop any additional water from entering your basement. This is usually done by turning off a valve at the main water shut-off, which you can generally find in your basement or crawl space.
Turn off the electricity to your house. Usually, this will involve switching breakers labeled “main” or “breaker box.” If you’re unsure where these are located in your home, ask an electrician for help or look up instructions online.
Turn off the gas to your house, so there’s no chance of accidentally starting a fire with exposed flames nearby— and there’s no chance of having any residual gas leak into the air when you turn the basement’s power back on!
PUMP OUT THE WATER
When your basement floods, you should first call a professional to pump out water or hire someone to help you do it yourself. The general rule is that if the water level is below the floor joists (the horizontal beams supporting your house’s foundation), you can get by with a sump pump.
If your basement has flooded, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to dry out every last inch of space. And even if you can dry out your entire basement, you’ll likely have some serious mold issues on your hands. It pays off when you take care of these things as soon as possible, so they don’t cost thousands of dollars more than needed to be cleaned up in the first place!
If possible, try not to leave any standing water overnight — although this may not always be feasible due to other commitments outside your control. Try to drain off excess water during daylight hours.
REMOVE WET & DAMAGED ITEMS
Before cleaning your basement, remove all wet items from the area. This includes not only furniture and appliances but also items like clothing and boxes of paperwork that may be damaged by water if left in the basement for too long.
When removing items from your flooded basement, be sure to do so as soon as possible — the longer you wait before removing them, the more damage they will sustain due to prolonged exposure to water. If possible, it’s recommended that you remove these items within 24 hours of their first contact with water — if this is not feasible due to personal circumstances or other factors, try to aim for an earlier removal date whenever possible.
Remember that whatever method you choose for removing water-damaged objects from your home should be done carefully so that no further damage occurs during this process. There may still be hidden pockets of dampness.
DRY OUT THE BASEMENT
When drying out your basement, you need to ensure that air is circulating. This means that fans should be placed strategically in the portions of the basement you are trying to dry out. If available, you can also use dehumidifiers, which, combined with fans, will speed up the drying process.
USE FANS & DEHUMIDIFIERS
Fans help dry out your basement by increasing airflow and circulating warm air. Set the fan on low to dry items gently without blowing them around. You can also use fans to blow hot air from your furnace or heat pump through a window in an unused room while you’re not using it.
A dehumidifier is a device that removes moisture from the air by either condensing it into water or drying it out with fans. For example, a dehumidifier can help dry out your basement after a flood so mold does not grow in the wet space.
If you have carpeting, use a wet/dry vacuum with a pump to remove water from carpets and upholstery (you’ll need one with at least 2 gallons of capacity). Make sure you read the owner’s manual first so that you know how much water it will hold before needing to be emptied again.
As long as there are no open holes, windows, etc., fans and dehumidifiers should be enough for most basements. However, if there is still standing water after 24 hours or open holes or cracks in your foundation walls, then call a professional for help.
HOW TO PREVENT A BASEMENT FLOOD
When your basement floods, it can cause extensive damage to your property and possessions. That’s why it’s important to familiarize yourself with the causes of basement flooding and learn how to prevent it before it happens.
REPAIR CRACKS IN FOUNDATION & PLUMBING
Check your home’s foundation and plumbing for cracks if flooding occurs during heavy rain or storm. Basements are more likely to flood if there is a crack in any part of the foundation, including walls and flooring.
If you suspect your basement has flooded due to plumbing leaks, you will want to hire a plumber as soon as possible. Repairing these issues can save you from future damage and flooding events.
Basements are also prone to leaking from other sources, such as roof leaks and wall cracks, so it’s usually best to hire a professional to repair any existing damage quickly before another severe weather event occurs.
CLEAR RAINSPOUTS & GUTTERS
You’ll want to ensure that your gutters aren’t clogged with leaves and debris, as this could cause water to pool against your home’s foundation. If you have a high gutter, you may need to use a ladder to reach it. Once you’ve cleaned out any debris from your gutters and downspouts, give them another look using the flashlight method: shine the light into each one while slowly walking around the house.
COVER YOUR WINDOW WELLS
Another essential step to preventing water damage during a flood is to cover your window wells. An uncovered window well can act like a funnel for rainwater and other debris to enter your basement and cause flooding.
Covering the window well with plastic or a tarp is helpful because these materials are lightweight and porous enough to let air through while also preventing water from seeping in.
However, covering your window wells with thick tarps can cause problems — if they’re too heavy, they’ll exert pressure on the surrounding foundation walls and contribute to future cracks. Covering your window wells could also allow pests to enter your home without anyone noticing — which means more damage and more money spent
MAINTAIN YOUR SUMP PUMP
A properly working sump pump can help protect your home from flooding. However, many things can affect your sump pump’s performance, including debris buildup and clogs. If you don’t regularly check and clean your sump pump, its performance could decrease significantly over time.
Here are some simple ways to keep your sump pump in tip-top shape:
- Check the drainage system around your home for any signs of clogging or blockage. If there is any sign of blockage, unblock this area before using the system again.
- Check the battery. If it’s less than a year old, the battery should be okay. If the sump pump isn’t working properly or at all, it may be time to replace the batteries.
- Clean out your sump pit every month. This will help prevent clogs in your pipes leading away from your house and will help keep any mold that grows inside of it under control as well as preventing other harmful microorganisms from growing within those same pipes.
- Inspect the float level inside the pit every three months or so — if it has risen above its normal position, then it means that water will start pouring out into your house instead of just running down into the pit. If the water level is above the float, then you need to call a professional to come and fix it as soon as possible.
REGRADE YOUR LAWN
If your basement is flooding due to outside water entering your home, you should grade your lawn away from the house. Water needs to flow away from your home rather than pooling in front of it. Use a shovel or garden rake and dig up some dirt from around the foundation of your house. Ensure that the ground slopes away so water will be diverted toward other parts of the yard and not pool under your property.
SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP
Basement floods are serious problems that often require professional help and fast action. Here are some of the reasons why:
- A basement flood can cost you tens of thousands of dollars to repair, depending on how badly it’s damaged.
- Water damage is a health hazard that requires trained professionals to clean up properly. Otherwise, mold and other problems may develop in your home or office building.
- Mold can cause allergies and aggravate asthma symptoms in those who suffer from respiratory issues. It also has been linked to cancer when inhaled over long periods of time as well as other serious illnesses such as pneumonia and Legionnaire’s disease.
If you’ve experienced a basement flood, it may be tempting to just move on once the water has been drained out. But don’t make that mistake — it can lead to more problems in the future. The best thing to do is call in a professional who can help you identify and repair any issues that might have contributed to the problem. This will ensure that your home stays safe from future floods as well!Call Paul Davis Restoration today! We specialize in flood and water damage restoration. We will conduct a complete restoration procedure, and repair or redo the damaged portions of your home. Contact your local Paul Davis technicians for a flood damage quote. Don’t live in a property that is burdened with flood damage, reach out to us and we’ll reduce some of the tension.