Basement flooding can happen at any moment, especially in the spring, when snow melts and spring storms start. Flooding can occur even in dry weather because of unexpected blockages into the sewage system around your house. If you’ve experienced basement flooding, it is imperative to take care of the situation instantly. To assist you to overcome this emergency, check out this basement flood cleanup guide:
How to Tidy Up a Flooded Basement
Tackling basement flooding repair yourself isn’t a fantastic idea, so keep the amount of a water damage restoration expert on hand. However, if you want to handle the issue yourself, then here are essential flooded cellar repair tips:
Things to do quickly following a basement flooding:
- First, make sure that it’s secure to enter your property. Check for structural damage, like cracks, holes or warping.
- Immediately shut off the electrical supply to your home at the main circuit breaker. Be aware of electrical wires which are within the water amount.
- When the flooding is due to a burst water heater in your house, shut off the main water source.
- Prevent direct contact with floodwater, which might contain dangerous contaminants.
- Telephone your insurance company, take photos, and document all of damaged items. Make a list of the possessions to restore and to lose. If the pump has a backup battery, then it should drain the water even if the power is off.
Basement flood cleanup tips
- Quickly remove affected things from floodwater to avoid mold growth, warping, and rot. Things that suck up a lot of water (such as carpet and furniture) can usually be salvaged if they have been in floodwater for under 24 hours. Otherwise, throw them away.
- Completely dry the cellar to avoid further damage and mold development.
- Suck up the water with a sump pump and a Wet-Dry vacuum cleaner.
- Use dehumidifiers and ventilate the basement as much as possible. Use fans and open windows when the weather allows, but not if the outside humidity is high. This allows moist air from beneath the walls to evaporate.
- Properly drying a flooded basement can take up to two weeks.
- After everything was dried, clean and disinfect the cellar contents and construction (walls, foundation floor, drywall, etc.). You may have to discard the drywall and wood if a lot of mold has grown.
- Don’t use bleach to clean mold because bleach kills live mold but not mold spores. Household detergent is preferable.
- Regardless of the size of the mold-affected area, carefully think about contacting a mold remediation company. They can determine the moisture source and restore the moldy surfaces economically and without danger of mould recurrence.
- Make any necessary repairs, like filling base cracks, replacing damaged shingles using a mold-resistant kind, and sealing windows and vents.
- If your basement has been flooded with sewage, check out our tips to take care of sewage backup in a cellar.
Prevent Basement Flooding
- Also, be sure that the ground is slightly sloping away from your home. Install an emergency generator to give your house with electricity during blackouts.
- Install a sump pump that automatically drains water out of the basement and prevents water from climbing. Pick one with a backup battery.
- Make sure that your drainage systems and plumbing are working properly.
- Read more tips to prevent basement water damage and check out the leading causes of basement flooding.
For basement flooding cleanup, phone the PuroClean restoration professionals
Whether your basement has flooded due to excess rain, sewage backup, a pipe burst or other causes, we stand ready to visit your house’s rescue. Our technicians are trained and certified to manage crises like basement flood repair, mold removal, and water damage recovery. We have over 280 offices located across North America that are ready to answer your call 24/7/365.