A basement flood feels like an overwhelming disaster. Water is a destructive force that can ruin carpets and furniture, electrical items, flooring, and walls. It can also promote mold growth, which can be a lingering health hazard for the inhabitants. Homeowners who experience a basement flood are often at a loss as to how to clean up and repair the damage. The following are some tips from flooding experts at Armored Basement Waterproofing LLC in Rockville.
The first thing to do if you have standing water in the basement is to shut off the power to the area, both electricity and gas. If the flooding is deep, the safest option is to contact the power company and have them actually remove the meter from its socket. Depending on the source of the flood, you may also need to shut off the water supply to the basement.
The next step is to remove the water. A small amount of standing water can be mopped up or soaked up by towels, but you may need to use a machine to extract the water. A wet/dry vacuum is one option, and a sump pump or a pool pump is another.
Once the water has been dealt with, start salvaging what you can. Remove intact items from the basement and put them in a warm, dry place to dry. This includes the carpeting, which should be taken up and moved out of the basement as soon as possible. Most things that have soaked up water need about 48 hours to fully dry. If the water was dirty, however, you may need to rely on professional carpet and upholstery cleaners.
When the basement is empty, clean the walls and floors. You may need to remove wet drywall and insulation in order to prevent mold growth. Then, spray everything down with an anti-mildew spray. Finally, open the windows and doors to give the basement ventilation. If possible, use a dehumidifier to speed up the drying process.
There are some things you can do to prevent a basement flood, including keeping the gutters clean and waterproofing the basement. For more information from Armored Basement Waterproofing LLC in Rockville, visit Armoredbasement.com.
