What To Do When The Basement Floods
Sadly, the basement floods sometimes and it is something every homeowner may have to deal with at one point or another. Whether it is just a small case of moisture seeping into the walls or a knee-deep flood in the basement, it can be rather inconvenient and frustrating to deal with. Apart from calling us at AAAction Waterproofing to help waterproof your home, here are a few tips to help you get your home back to its dry and cozy state.
Get Prepared Ahead Of Time
Maryland has had its fair share of heavy rains, you should always check your basement often for standing water or any other evidence of unexpected moisture. The quicker you can catch the leak, the easier it will be for you to take control and prevent any extensive water damage.
Act Quickly
It is important to act quickly after you have discovered your basement flooded. First you need to check the area for live electricity. You should already be aware of what currents run through your basement and should shut off the fuses to those areas for the time being. You should never stand in the water while touching something that has a live electrical current running in it.
See Where The Water Is Coming From
By this point it should be quite obvious where the water is coming from. It could be through a window or through a crack in the wall. If you are able to catch the incoming water with a bucket or find a way to deflect it for the time being. Otherwise the water will continue to make its way in while you are mopping up.
Remove Any Water Damaged Items
If there are any items that have been resting or floating in the water, make sure to get them cleared out and dry them as best as you can. Hang up any rugs or carpeting to dry and towel off any other wet items and set them in an area with ventilation to prevent mold and mildew from growing.
Remove The Water From The Area
The best tools for removing so much water from the area is a vacuum capable of sucking up the water or a pool pump. If you have neither of these available to you, then you will just have to make due with a bucket and dustpan. Make sure to dump the water into another drain such as a sink.
Mop Up The Rest Of The Water
After you have gotten the majority of the water from your basement, it is time to soak up any residual moisture that has been left over. Using a mop, continue to wring out the water into a bucket until you can barely get any water out of it. The basement might still be moist, but the standing water should be mostly gone now.
Use Fans In Order To Air Out The Area
The trouble with concrete is that it is porous, which means that even after you have collected most of the water from the floor, the floor is still retaining quite a bit of water. So try to run fans in the room for a day or so to dry out the rest of the water.
Spray Disinfectant
One of your main concerns after a flood has occurred is to prevent mold and mildew from growing. Mold can be quite a health hazard and spraying disinfectant can be a crucial step towards preventing it from appearing. So make sure to generously spray the floor and walls afterwards.