Basement floods are often a result of excessive rain which has penetrated your home. This can be through leaking walls, gaps, or even by coming up from the soil. Equally, your basement can be flooded because the wastewater system has been blocked and the wastewater has nowhere to go.
This is a more serious issue as there are health implications and you’ll need to deal with the clog alongside clearing up the floodwater. The worst thing about sewer clogs and resulting floods is that they are usually avoidable. By paying attention to your sewers and investing in a pipe inspection camera you’ll be aware of any issue long before it causes a flood.
Of course, the flood can also be a result of a broken water pipe.
However, if a flood has happened you need to take quick action.
Shut Off Services
The first thing you should do is shut off the power to the flooded section of your home. If this isn’t possible you’ll need to shut off all power to your house. Put simply, water and electricity don’t mix. Water is actually a very good conductor. If the electrical current flows into the water and you touch the same water, you will get a serious electric shock.
Move Items
You need to be careful before wading into the floodwater. In the first instance, if it is from the sewer pipes then you should protect your skin, especially any open wounds. You don’t want bacteria getting into your body.
Secondly, no matter how well you know your basement, water can move objects, you’ll need to be careful where you step to ensure you don’t trip.
It is a good idea to move any item that has not been damaged by water already. This can save the cost of replacing or even the issue of being unable to replace sentimental items.
Stopping The Flow
If the water is still coming into your basement you’ll want to stop the flow, if possible. This is easy if the flood is a result of a sewer clog or pipe leak. Simply turn off the water supply and don’t use the appliances until the issue is resolved.
In the case of rainwater, you may need to use sandbags and block the flow. Having a pump handy can also help to get the water out of your house.
Clearing Up
Your next step will be to get the water out of your basement. That means a pump and buckets to remove as much of the liquid as possible. The more you can get out the easier it will be to dry your basement out.
It is important to remove any carpet or other flooring, you need the concrete to breathe as this will help it to dry faster.
Ventilation
The key to drying the basement properly is to ventilate as much as possible. Cool air will dry the space faster than warm air. It needs to dry properly to ensure you don’t have an issue with damp and mold afterward.
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures before and after and then contact the insurance company.
