What should I do when my basement floods? Flood damage happens quickly, so you need to clean it up immediately. Floods can ruin walls and carpeting in as little as one hour and mold can appear in less than a day. Plus, it will only cost more the longer you wait. No matter the cause, here is what you need to do when your basement floods.
What To Do About Basement Flooding
You need to act fast to prevent costly repairs, whether your flooding is caused by a sewage backups heavy rain storm, water leak, or plumbing issue. Flood water will soak into walls and basement floors quickly.
The longer you wait to remove the water, the greater the chance of permanent damage. Not only does mean more money to repair the damage, but it also leads to the growth of mold.
Here is a step-by-step guide to what to do about a flooded basement:
1. Take Preventative Measures to Stay Safe
First off, water and electricity are extremely dangerous. Avoid entering your basement if the water is higher than your electrical outlets. Call an electrician to inspect the damage before entering your basement.
Also, flood waters can contain mold and bacteria that can make you sick. Wear heavy rubber boots or waders, pants, long sleeves, and rubber gloves. Make sure you keep children and pets away from the basement.
2. Rent a Pump to Remove the Water
Next, you need to remove as much water as possible. Unless you already have one, you need to rent a high-volume suction pump to get rid of the water.
Get the longest discharge hose possible and run it out to the street. If you turned off the power, you will also need to rent a generator.
Keep the area around the pump inlet clear to prevent clogs and suck as much water out of your basement as possible. Depending on the amount of water, most pumps will take 30 to 90 minutes to drain your basement.
3. Call Your Insurance Company
It may seem counter-intuitive, but you want to call your insurance company after you get the water out of your basement. The longer it sits, the more damage it does. This will drive up restoration costs.
Dealing with the bulk of the water first will limit damage and save you money in the long run. Especially since most insurance does not cover groundwater flooding.
4. Remove Wet Items From Your Basement
Then you need to remove waterlogged items from your basement so you can start drying the area. Start by moving soaked furniture to another room. Put them on heavy tarps so they don’t drip on the floor.
Next, remove wet rugs and carpeting. Move them to a dry surface like a garage floor and dry them separately. See our guide to drying wet carpeting for complete details.
Finally, remove wet personal items and electronics. Have appliances and electronics inspected by a professional before using them and review our checklist of what to throw away after a flood.
5. Suck Up Excess Water With a Shop Vac
Use a wet-dry shop vac to remove any remaining water from the walls and your flooring. Shop vacs will pull water off solid surfaces like tile and concrete quickly, but it will take longer for wood and drywall.
Always work in small sections. For walls, move the hose in small circles, moving across and down. With wood, move in a straight line with the wood grain. Be careful not to damage the surface with the tip of the hose.
6. Improve Air Flow in Your Basement
Once most of the water is gone, you can finally start drying. Use high-velocity air movers to circulate air and promote evaporation.
Rent one air mover for every 300 to 500 square feet of flooded space. Most basements average 500 to 1500 square feet, so expect to use at least two.
Position the air movers towards walls and check them every four to six hours. Move them around as your basement dries out. With the right equipment, drying basement flooding takes 12 to 36 hours.
Avoid using regular house fans because they do not create enough air circulation. It can take days or even wets to dry your home, increasing the risk of mold growth.
7. Use a Dehumidifier To Dry Walls and Flooring
Air movers are only one part of drying a wet basement. You also need to rent a structural drying dehumidifier to pull moisture out of the air. Choose a unit that is rated for the square footage of your basement or get two small units.
Do not use a household dehumidifier. They do not have the capacity to effectively dry your walls or flooring. Plus, they are only designed to reach a specific relative humidity. At that level, your basement will never dry completely.
8. Check Your Foundation, Plumbing, Sump Pumps, and Floor Drains
Perhaps the most important step in knowing what to do when your basement floods is finding the cause. While your basement is drying, look for signs so you can make repairs.
It’s usually easy to find problems with plumbing leaks, but issues with flood drains, foundation walls, and sump pumps are harder to see.
Check for cracks and leaks in your foundation. Another sign of foundation issues is efflorescence, a sparkly mineral build-up on the wall.
Major causes of a sump pump failure include power outages, a broken switch, and an overworked pump. Test your sump pump every 6 months and replace it every 8 to 12 years.
The best way to prevent drain clogs is to clean your drains regularly and use a hair catcher in the bathroom. Also, never pour fats or coffee grounds down the drain.
9. Kill Mold and Bacteria
After your basement is entirely dry, you need to kill mold and bacteria. Clean every surface with soap and warm water to remove any dirt.
Then add a cup of bleach to a gallon of water and fill a spray bottle. Spray your entire basement thoroughly. Let the bleach air dry and then repeat the process.
10. Rebuild the Damaged Area in Your Basement
Finally, you can rebuild the damage. The exact process will depend on the extent of your flood damage. Typically, it includes replacing at least the carpet padding if not the carpeting.
If you have more significant flooding, you might need to replace damaged sections of your wall. Cut the drywall at least six inches about the water line, otherwise, you can have future damage or mold.
Did your basement flood? Are your walls wet? If you’re not sure what to do when your basement floods, let the experts are Restoration Local Help. Our trained and experienced flood professionals will remove the water, then dry and restore your home. Call 1-888-443-3110 for a free quote on reliable flood restoration.
