A flooded basement can be one of the hardest and most frustrating issues to deal with as a homeowner. It’s a problem that seems too big to overcome, but it can be done if you follow these steps.
Shut Off All Power in Your Basement
As soon as you notice that your basement is flooding, shut off any power in the area. to reduce the likelihood of electrocution. If you’re not sure how to do this, call an electrician before you head into your flooded basement.
Determine the Source of the Water
While it’s easy to say that you should start removing water from your basement immediately, you should first determine the reason for the flooding. If the flooding is due to a burst pipe, you can shut off the water and start fixing the problem. If the flood is due to heavy rain, you need to wait until the rain stops before you start getting rid of the water in your basement.
Start Removing Water
Once you’ve determined the source of the flooding and you’re sure the problem isn’t going to get worse, you can start removing water from your basement. You can start by checking your basement’s floor drain if there is one. It is very likely that the flood happened because it’s blocked. This may be the only thing you really need to do if the flooding isn’t too severe.
In most cases, water in your basement can be removed with a sump pump, a pool pump, or a wet/dry vacuum. If you have a sump pump, it will be located in the lowest part of your basement. Check to make sure that it is working properly, and get it started if you can. Otherwise, a pool pump or wet/dry vaccuum should be able to get rid of standing water just as easily. Once you’ve gotten rid of the worst of the flooding, sop up any remaining water with cloth and sponges.
Remove Damaged Items
If you’ve been using your basement for storage or a living space, you will need to move any belongings that were there to a space where they can dry. You might be able to leave some items outside to dry, but you might have to settle for a dry storage area instead. Give your belongings about 48 hours to dry. If you have any electrical items such as TVs or stereos, it’s best to leave them in place. They can still electrocute someone even if they aren’t plugged into a power source.
As you remove your belongings from your basement, pull up any carpet that you might have. Carpet has a tendency to trap moisture, which can lead to mold and mildew growth.
Once you’ve removed the water and all of your belongings, it’s just a matter of waiting until your basement is dry again. Open windows to give it as much ventilation as possible, and set up a few fans to speed up the drying time.
Since cleaning out a flooded basement is a challenge for any homeowner, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. There are plenty of companies that provide emergency water damage restoration services near you, so do some research to find one that can help you when you need it.
