It’s never good news when your basement floods. For some people, it happens a lot. Others, it can be a new experience. There are a number of reasons why your basement can become flooded, none of them good.
But as long as you react quickly, you can minimize the amount of damage that will occur. If you do have a flooded basement, there are a few things you need to do right away.
What Should I Do If My Basement Floods?
We can try our best to prevent flooding in our basement, but we can’t always prevent it from happening.
Cut The Power
Never go into your basement if it is flooded. Find your circuit breaker and cut the power to the house. If you don’t know where it is, or if it is in your basement, call your electrician to do it for you.
Remove Electrical Appliances
Try to get anything that can pose a potential shock out of the way. Once the power is cut, unplug any appliances, like your washer and dryer, lamps, or anything else in there.
Get Rid of the Water
You will need to find the source of the flood. If it is weather-related, then that will take care of itself. If it is a burst pipe or other plumbing issue, your plumber will find that.
Remove the water from the basement. Check that your sump pump is working correctly and that the drains are not blocked. There may be something wrong with either if the water was allowed to pool.
Remove Wet Items
You will need to remove all the items in your basement. Furniture, carpets, boxes, everything that is in there. If left, they will develop mold and mildew, which is another problem and a possible health hazard.
Many of these items may need to be discarded. Carpeting and some furniture may never be able to be cleaned or have the smell of mold removed. These pose a health hazard.
Dry Your Basement
Drying out your flooded basement will need fans or industrial blowers. A dehumidifier will also help. As basements tend to be damp anyhow, it’s a good idea to have one anyhow, if your basement feels damp.
You will need to have the area cleaned, to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. It can get into your drywall and other areas and cause a lot of damage. You can also get an air purifier to get rid of the mold spores.
Repairs
Even if the basement flood was due to an excessive amount of rain or melting snow, it still managed to get into your home. Whatever the cause, it needs to be repaired.
Cracks in the foundation, drainage problems, faulty sump pump, The water managed to get in, so you need to prevent that from happening in the future. Repairs and an inspection will help you understand what went wrong.
You may want to get your basement waterproofed to make sure it is better prepared for future basement floods. It may be a problem with the foundation, your landscaping, or your drainage system.
Preventing Basement Floods
It’s a good idea to have your home inspected regularly to be better prepared for basement floods or other problems due to your foundation or plumbing. Consult the professionals to make sure your home is safe year-round.
Call us here at Olson Foundation Repair for any foundation problems you may be experiencing. We’ve been providing fairly priced, professional foundation repair and basement waterproofing services in Kansas City since 1986.