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Basement Water 102

A flooded basement is a pain in the….well, it’s a pain.  But it’s not the end of the world.  Water damage can be repaired, if you act quickly, take the right steps in the correct order, and do them right the first time.  That doesn’t sound too hard, does it?

The first step is simple: stop the water.  Determine the source of the leak and shut it off.

Next, shut off all electricity to the basement area.  Just to be safe, shut it off to the whole house; that way there is no chance for error.  You do not want to be mucking around in six inches of water and reach out for a light switch.  Trust me on this.

Remove all furniture and loose items from the damaged area.  They will need to be dried and cleaned elsewhere anyway and would only serve as an impediment to subsequent repair work. 

Basement water cleanup also requires the water be removed from the damaged area.  Use wet-dry vacs or submersible gas powered pumps to remove the water.  No electric pumps, please, for obvious reasons.

You’ll then want to open all windows and doors to circulate as much air as possible. Use fans and dehumidifiers as well.  This will facilitate the removal of moisture from surfaces and air, cutting down on the chance of molds and other toxins taking root.

Basement water damage doesn’t mean the end of the world.  It can be repaired, and you can take steps to make your basement less prone to flooding.   For more information, contact your local water damage restoration company.