Cleaning up a flooded basement disaster
January 5, 2011
Dealing with a flooded basement is never a fun situation. However, if your basement does flood, it’s important to begin cleaning it up as soon as possible. Although it may seem like a very difficult task, the longer you wait to begin, the worse the damage is going to be. By promptly stopping the flood and removing the water from your basement, you will be able to reduce the amount of damage that is done.
There are several common causes of flooding in basements. Many people experience a flood in their basement during the winter. The reason for this is because a frozen pipe can cause a basement to flood. When the weather gets very cold, it can cause the water in pipes to freeze. In the worst case scenario, a frozen pipe can burst. If the frozen pipe is located in your basement, this burst will cause an instant rush of water from the pipe. Although a burst pipe can seemingly come out of the blue, it won’t take long for it to fill up your basement with water. Another factor that can lead to a flooded basement is overflow from gutters. Whether it’s because the gutters are clogged or simply because a sudden downpour of rain is too much for them to handle, this overflow of water can find its way into your basement.
Regardless of what causes your basement to flood, you are going to want to get the water out of your basement as quickly as possible. To do this, you will need to use a wet vacuum, sump pump or wet shop vacuum. If you don’t own any of these tools, you don’t have to buy one. Instead, you should be able to rent one from a local home improvement or hardware store. Once you have the tool you need, you can begin using it to remove water from your basement. Because most flooded basements contain a significant amount of water, this process can take some time. To maximize the effectiveness of your flooded basement cleanup, you should begin with the highest priority areas. These are the areas where you are most concerned about long-term damage from water. When it doubt you should also consider hiring a professional water damage restoration company to assist you with the cleaning process.
As you are removing the water from your basement, you should open any windows in your basement. The reason is because this will allow the excess moisture in the room to escape. Not allowing moisture to accumulate can reduce the likelihood of future mold growth in your basement. You can also turn the heat up to help this process.
Once you have extracted all of the excess water from your basement, you will want to remove everything. In most cases, this includes your carpet. While a professional may be able to help you salvage your carpet, you need to remove it for the time being. Once you have removed everything from your basement, you can use bleach to thoroughly clean it. Completely disinfecting your basement will kill harmful bacteria and also cut down on mold growth down the road.
