What To Do For A Flooded Basement

A flooded basement in your home is always unexpected. Unfortunately, what can be expected are the stress and headaches in dealing with the situation. Not only can basement flooding cause damage to your possessions, it can also degrade the structural integrity of your home and foundation due to excess moisture. Basement floods can also pose a safety risk to you and your family if you try to fix the damage yourself. However, you can ease some of the stress you might experience by knowing the proper steps to take:

Make Sure it’s Safe to Go in the Basement

Anytime there is water in the basement, you need to first consider the fact that it may have risen above an electrical outlet and there may be an electrical current running through the water. Regardless of the water source, wear boots and gloves for protection.

Shut Off Utilities

If flooding is severe, turn off both the electricity and gas to ensure the safety of yourself and your family. If flooding is minor, turning the electricity off may not be necessary, but can always be done as an extra precaution.

Prevent Electrocution

Do not use any appliances that require electricity when there is standing water in your home. You can potentially use a wet vacuum to remove the water, but it is advised to first read the vacuum’s instructions thoroughly.

Remove the Water Rapidly

To prevent lasting damage, remove the water from your home immediately. This will also help prevent damage to any belongings in your home. Mopping can remove smaller amounts of excess water in your home, whereas larger amounts of water may require a 24-hour Emergency Response from Water Damage Restoration professionals who can efficiently extract the water.

Circulate Air

During the first 24-48 hours of a flood, it is vital to dry any water in your home. You can begin this process by using fans to circulate the air, as well as opening windows (if weather permits). Once a professional restoration team arrives at your home, the trained technicians will be able to determine how many air movers (i.e., large, powerful fans) and dehumidifiers are needed to properly dry all areas, whether visible or hidden from sight, that have been exposed to the excess water.

Remove Important Belongings and Furniture

Move any important belongings and furniture to a dry location. If left exposed to water, these items may end up with permanent, irreversible damage.

Wipe Down Furniture

Wipe away excess water from your furniture after you have moved them to a safe location. Open up cabinets and lay out books. You want to make sure you remove all water from your furniture to prevent mold from forming in the future. In cases where a large number of possessions have been exposed to water, professional Contents Restoration companies are available to handle all of this cleaning for you.

Inform Your Insurance Agent

Insurance coverage with respect to water damage varies and depends on certain factors such as the cause of the flooding. Review your homeowners policy and if there are questions, ask your agent. Confirm your coverage limits, deductible amount, and claim procedures.

If you file a claim, the damage will be assessed by an adjuster and Xtreme Home Improvement will work directly with your insurance company representatives throughout the water extraction and repair process to help your claim go as smoothly as possible.

Do Not Throw Anything Out

Do not throw out any damaged belongings because a claim adjuster might need to inspect them. Keeping everything will not only help the claims process go faster, it will also help you receive a compensation amount from your insurance claim that reflects as closely as possible the total cost of your losses.

Repair the Damage

It’s important to get the water damage addressed right away to prevent more issues. The longer water damage goes unresolved, the greater the chance it becomes worse. Many common building materials are porous, so they absorb excess water and moisture and will continue to do so. Additionally, within 24 hours of the initial damage, mold growth can occur in response to the water damage. Repairing water damage can be a tough process to go through physically as well as emotionally. Sometimes, water damage can’t practically be done on your own and will require a professional’s expertise. If the do-it-yourself option doesn’t work for you, hire a professional water damage restoration company.