What to Do If Your Basement Has Flooded Do you have a flooded basement on your hands? The first thing you need to do is stay calm. This situation seems overwhelming, but you have options. The more calm and level-headed you stay during this situation, the faster you’ll have your basement back to normal again. Now, follow the steps on this list, and your basement will be dry in no time. Important Steps to Follow: Avoid the Water First of all, get yourself and your family members away from the flooded basement. You don’t know what the water contains. If the water came from a flood, then it might contain toxins and germs that can cause serious illness. If it’s simple groundwater, then it won’t be as harmful as flood water, but it can still contain bacteria. If the water is coming from a leaking pipe or appliance, then you’ll want to shut the water off. However, don’t do that until you’ve turned off the electricity. Electricity is the other reason why you’ll want to avoid the water. If the water has reached any electricity, it can carry a dangerous charge and put you in harm’s way. Turn Off the Electricity Speaking of electricity, turning it off is your next step. As we said above, water can carry an electric charge. If you can, just turn off the electricity for the basement itself. There’s no reason to go without lights or heat if you don’t have to. Get Flooded Basement Help Drying a flooded basement is a tough task. First, you need to make sure you have all of the proper safety gear. Then, you need to remove the standing water with a sump pump. After that, you should dry the basement with fans, dehumidifiers, and even towels. You may need to clean and sanitize the basement, too. Unfortunately, this process can be exhausting. Therefore, we recommend getting some professional help. With the right water extraction team, your basement will be clean and dry quickly, and you won’t have to worry about missing a spot or doing something wrong. Plus, you won’t have to do all of that work by yourself. Call DC Water Restoration Do you need help with your flooded basement? DC Water Restoration is the team you need. We’ll take care of the water removal so that you don’t have to, and we’ll leave your space completely dry. If you have water in your basement, contact us now. The longer you wait, the more damage the water can cause.
5 Easy Ways to Avoid Basement Floods Avoid Basement Floods For most people around the world, spring can be the best time of the entire year, with good weather and beautiful plants. However, spring often also brings with it heavy rains, which can actually be a nightmare for a homeowner. The rain can seep into your home and actually clause the basement to flood. The condition is not unavoidable, and can be prevented by following some basic steps. These help ensure that there is minimal damage. Clean out snow from the house and gutters: In winters, floods can be caused as a result of ice from snow melting and seeping into your home. This can be avoided by making sure no ice or snow builds up near your house or near the gutters. If snow collects in the gutters, it can actually cause a blockage which, once again, can prove to be a problem. If you want to clean the gutter out yourself, use a cleaning kit to do so and make sure you use a safe ladder. Check your sump pump: Sump pumps are often found in basements and can help you out when you want to pull the water out from your basement. If you don’t already have one installed, it’s probably a good idea to get one installed as soon as you can. If one is installed, you should ensure that the valve isn’t blocked. The pump should also be clean. Make sure that the pump has been testing and is functioning as it should be. If the power goes out, the pump won’t work, and there will be a risk of flooding. This is why you should also install an alarm for sump pump to inform you whenever the pump has stopped working. This is why you will be aware beforehand and can do something about it before the situation gets worse. You can also use a battery based system so the pump doesn’t stop working even when the power is gone. Set alarms to avoid impending damages: Another place you need to install alarms will be ones that help detect leaks or water that is seeping in. These alarms are usually pretty affordable and they can alert you about a potential situation even when you’re not at home. Use covers for window wells: Basement windows can sometimes become a source that allow water to seep inside the basement in case of rain or flood nearby. In this case, you will need to install covers for the window wells. These fasten the window to the foundation and prevent entry. Check your home for cracks: Homes often undergo a lot of damage and stress. This can result in the creation of cracks in the foundation of the home. If there is a crack near the basement, water can seep in and start collecting there. This is why they need to be addressed at once. The good news is that usually cracks can be handed with ease, however if the cracks are too severe, you will need to contact a professional to take over the waterproofing.