How To Deal With a Basement Flood

10/15/2019 (Permalink)

Basement flood in Scottsdale,AZ

Here Are Some Important Steps To Take When Dealing With a Flooded Basement

When your Scottsdale,AZ, basement floods, whether it’s unfinished or a souped-up man cave, panic will increase as the water rises. There are a number of factors that can cause a basement flood, but water is water, and the resulting damage is the same. Here are some important steps to take when dealing with a flooded basement:

1. Turn Off Electricity

First and foremost, as soon as you can safely navigate to the breaker box, shut off the electricity to the basement. Appliances and exposed wires may be in or near the water, and there’s a good chance an electric current is traveling through the standing water. It could be deadly to step in it before the power is turned off. If you need help, contact an electrician or the electric company.

2. Stop the Source of the Flood

If the flood is plumbing-related, it’s important to turn off the water at the source or at your home’s main valve. If rainwater is coming into the house and there’s no sign of it stopping soon, you may want to sandbag, use flood bags or employ other flood barriers. Once the flood stops, you can take more proactive actions.

3. Remove the Water

A wet/dry vacuum comes in handy when dealing with standing water in a basement flood, especially if debris is floating. It can quickly and safely remove the standing water.

4. Remove Affected Material

Once as much water as possible has been eliminated, it’s time to start removing waterlogged items. Dispose of flooded carpet and padding. Other porous items, such as sofas and wooden furniture, will need drying as quickly as possible to save them.

5. Disinfect

Mold can start developing within 24 hours of the introduction of water. It’s important to dry and disinfect the area thoroughly to keep mold and bacteria from growing and spreading.
If your home sustains water damage from a basement flood, be sure to check your insurance coverage to see what’s covered. You can call water damage cleanup experts to restore your basement back to its original state.