Flooding can happen in any basement. If you don’t live in a high-risk flood zone or aren’t in a state that experiences a lot of rain, you might think your basement is safe from flooding.
Basement flooding can be caused by many home problems, including leaky pipes and sewage lines. No matter how deep the flooding is, it poses severe health and safety risks for you and those in your home if it isn’t addressed promptly.
Whether you accidentally built an in-ground pool or simply want to prepare for future flooding, we have tips on what you should do after a basement flooding disaster. So let’s get started!
Flooding in the basement: What Should You Do?
If your basement floods, the first thing you should not do is walk into the standing water in your basement.
Water can contain harmful bacteria if there is a sewage leak, and if any electrical wiring is exposed, you might be shocked or electrocuted. Ideally, any electrical equipment that has been exposed to water should be turned off or removed as soon as possible by an electrician.
What Are the Steps to Fix a Flooded Basement?
To avoid a basement flood situation that results in any damage, it is essential to act as soon as you get the okay from an electrician or professional plumber. As a result, you will have minor damage and repair costs in the aftermath if you act promptly.
The following steps will help you counteract most of the damages of a basement flood.
Put on protective gear
If your professional plumber or contractor has removed most of the hazards from your basement, you still need to wear protective gear before you enter.
The following are included:
- A thick pair of gloves
- Waterproof boots (preferably rubber)
- Goggles and a mouth mask (surgical mask)
Furthermore, when working in your basement, open all the windows to let most of the fumes out. Dehumidifiers can also assist in removing most of the moisture from the air.
You need professional drywall repair and installation services to ensure your home or business looks its best.
Removing water-damaged items
It doesn’t matter how much standing water is in your basement. It could damage the carpeting and walls and any belongings you store there. Most likely, you will have to rip up and replace the carpet with padding. Leaving wet carpet in your basement could result in mold growth. Wet drywall acts like a sponge, so it’s best to pull it out and dispose of it. If you want to save your plaster wall, you need to get air behind the studs to dry them. To kill mold, most resources suggest using a mixture of bleach and water.
Clean every surface with a disinfectant
Everything that has come into contact with water requires immediate attention.
If you mix hot water with a heavy-duty cleaner (like bleach or detergent) and scrub your walls and floors, you’ll be able to kill most of the bacteria and prevent mold growth in your basement. Of course, removing water-damaged items and cleaning surfaces is a labor-intensive process.
Final Note
This is how you should clean your basement after a flood. Alternatively, suppose you prefer to have a professional handle the water damage. In that case, you can ask your homeowners’ insurance company for a recommendation or hire a company specializing in water damage restoration.
