Unfortunately, basement floods are something that every homeowner will need to deal with at one point or another. Whether it’s a mild case of moisture seeping in through the walls or a full-blown flood with knee-deep water, basement floods are inconvenient, unwelcome and can be pricey to repair. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of dealing with a basement flood then there are a few steps to follow, which will help get the situation under control. Apart from calling Triad Basement Waterproofing to help you deal with a basement flood, here’s a few tips on what you can do to get your home back to its original dry, warm and comfortable state.
Be Prepared Ahead of Time
If you live in an area that is prone to heavy rains or heavy snow melts, check your basement often for standing water or unexpected moisture. The sooner you catch a leak, the easier it will be to control and your home won’t suffer extensive damage. Be aware of basement flooding warning signs so you know what to look for.
Act Quickly!
It’s important to act as soon as possible after discovering a flooded basement. Check the area for live electricity. You should be aware of what currents are running directly through your basement and if there is electricity running through the flooded area then shut off the fuse to that part of the house. Never stand in water while touching something that has a live electrical current running through it.
Find Out Where The Water is Coming From
It should be pretty obvious where the water is coming from. It may be coming in through a window, through the floor seams, a crack in the wall or through the floor. If you can catch the water in a bucket or deflect it somehow try to do that before you start cleaning up. Otherwise water will continue to make its way in while you are trying to mop up and dry off your basement.
Remove Water Damaged Items
If there are any items on the floor that have already been damaged by the flood pick them up and dry them off as best you can. Hang rugs and carpeting to dry, towel off any other wet items and set them in an area with ventilation so they don’t catch mold or mildew. Create a clutter free area so you don’t have to work around multiple items.
Remove the Water
The best tools for removing a large amount of water from a flooded basement are a vacuum capable of sucking up water or a pool pump. If neither of these is available to you then a plain old bucket and dustpan will also work. If you are using a wet vacuum or a pool pump don’t drain the water back into your backyard but direct it into a sink or another drain. The same goes for the dustpan and bucket. Use the empty dustpan to scoop water into the bucket and dump the water down a drain.
Mop up the Residual Water
After you have scooped out the majority of the standing water in your basement it’s time to soak up any residual moisture. Use a mop and continuously wring out the mop into a bucket until you’re not getting much water out of it. The basement will still be wet, but the standing water should mostly be gone.
Use Fans to Air Out & Dry Area
The thing about concrete is that it’s porous, which means that even if you collect and mop up any water from flooding the floor is still retaining more water than you may think. Run fans in the room for a day or two until the concrete floor is completely dry.
Spray With Disinfectant
Your main concern after a flood is to prevent mold and mildew from forming. Mold is a huge health hazard and spraying a disinfectant is an important step to prevent it. Lysol is a good choice because it kills mildew and freshens up the area. Generously spray the floor and walls with a disinfecting spray for a day or two to make sure there is no mold growth after the flood.
Attend to Furniture and Other Materials That Came in Contact With the Flood
Towel dry any furniture that may have gotten wet from the flood and make sure to spray it with a disinfecting spray that kills mold and mildew. If any cloth furniture came in contact with the water and absorbed it, unfortunately you may have to toss them out unless you find someone to wash and re-upholster them.These are a couple of do-it-yourself tips that you can initially take to quickly dry off and disinfect your basement after a flood. After you have secured the area contact the experts at Triad so we can come in and fix the leak so you don’t have to deal with any future floods. We offer services ranging from concrete and crack repair to basement waterproofing so future basement issues can be avoided!