The issue with the flooring is the ability to remove or dry the water in between the concrete slab and the piece of flooring. This topic is especially interesting when we see a flooded basement with a “waterproof” flooring product installed. Next, take all items out of the affected area and place outside or on your porch or deck for sorting. Scrub the floors and walls with an anti-bacterial cleaner to help reduce the risk of mold forming.
In these drains, floods, debris and tree roots can lead to stoppages, which does not let the water out from your home. Upholstery, carpets, walls and floor coverings are porous which means a basic cleaning will not suffice and more extensive disinfection, deodorizing and flood restoration is required. Microorganisms are often left behind, which can potentially cause health problems and unpleasant odors. All surfaces affected by water damage must be thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and deodorized in order to properly eliminate mold, bacteria, fungi and other viruses. If you notice that your basement is repeatedly flooding, despite your repair and maintenance efforts to prevent them, perhaps you have overlooked something. While faulty plumbing is usually the culprit for large Basement Flooding Cleanup , when the plumbing checks out, the location of the house is usually to blame.
If the water is less than a few inches, use a mop or towels to soak up water. Wring saturated materials out in buckets and then dump them outside, away from your home. Avoid pouring water down your drains, as this can cause more flooding or even result in a sewage backup.
Keep your dehumidifier and/or fan on until everything is dry; many of our experts recommend keeping the appliances on for a full 72 hours just to be safe. Adding a foam filter when clearing large volumes of water helps protect the Ridgid vacuum’s motor by catching debris. Heightened anxiety and a sense of urgency can cause some folks to rush right in and injure themselves.
Because of the construction inside and outside, water imposition can take place in basements. However, heavy rainfall melted snow draining along the base walls. Our expert team will assist you in any basement flood situation. We aim to provide you with services as fast as possible.
Everything that came into contact with the floodwater must be cleaned. Most household cleaners will be effective for flood cleanup. After cleaning walls and nonporous surfaces with a household cleaner or detergent, follow up with a disinfectant to prevent future mold or mildew growth. A diluted bleach solution (½ cup liquid chlorine bleach to a gallon of water) can work for this as well. For large areas, you can use a garden spray pump or similar tool. Move any wet items out of the basement and allow them to dry in a well-ventilated area.
Buy or rent a fan or dehumidifier to speed up the drying process. If stains remain on the walls, scrub them with a stiff bristle brush and household detergent. Remove silt and dirt stains by rinsing concrete walls and masonry foundation walls with a high pressure hose. Remove visible mud from wall studs, clean and spray with disinfectant to control mold. All damp insulation should be removed from inside the wall. Removal of all furniture and other contents – both salvageable and to be discarded – allows room for cleanup of the structure.
Raw sewage contains a wide array of bacteria that pose a health risk and it’s simply not worth putting your family at risk. Step 2 is to clean and sanitize your basement – Once the water has been removed from your basement the real work begins. You’ll want to clean up the area as soon as possible in order to prevent mold and mildew from growing.
No matter what, the most important step is to start getting your items out of the basement as soon as possible. The sooner you can get them started drying out, the better your chance of preventing mold. Even if your flood was a clean flood, it’s still a good idea to sanitize and deodorize any area that was flooded. Use a pool pump or wet vacuum, or rent a gas-powered water pump to pull out all the excess water in your basement. Here’s how to tackle flooded basement cleanup and when to call in a pro.
If you have flood insurance, call your insurance provider to file a claim. If you’re only dealing with an inch or two of water, follow the steps below to clean up the flooding. These companies are qualified to locate leaks of all kinds and won’t hesitate to get right into a mess of floodwaters. They’re also the best option to call if you need to clean up a basement after a raw sewage leak since they have all the safety equipment necessary to work in a toxic environment. You’ll be surprised at how quickly they can get the water out of your basement and assess which of your valuables can be salvaged. They also have the right experience to evaluate whether your drywall or hardwood floors will need to be removed or if they can dry out sufficiently to avoid mold growth.