For many homeowners, there’s nothing scarier than a flooded basement. Whether your basement floods due to rain or because of a backed up drainage system, a flooded basement can be stressful and nerve wracking.
So, what do you do when your basement is flooded? Motor City Plumbing & Drain has some basic tips on what to do when your basement floods – before giving us a call to help. It’s important to remember that a plumbing professional can relieve a flooded basement for you with minimal hassle. Should you choose to embark on this fix on your own, it’s still wise to call a plumber when the area is dry and freshly cleaned.
1) Don’t Enter a Flooded Basement
Flooding, for any reason, can do major damage to your home’s foundation but it can also cause problems within your electrical system. First, call an electrician to help. If your circuit breaker isn’t located in your basement, shut off the power supply to your house. This may seem like a drastic move but appliances and devices could become dangerous when in contact with water. When it’s finally safe to enter your basement, wear protective gear like waterproof boots, gloves, and a mask.
2) Remove Water When it’s Safe
If there’s more than two feet of water in your basement, and you have a sump pump – it likely failed. When you can reach your basement, and you’re properly protected, you can rent a pump to remove water or you can grab your ShopVac and try to remove as much water as possible. If you need help with this step, call the professionals at Motor City Plumbing & Drain for help.
It’s important to remove the water as quickly as possible. Any water that stays in the basement for a prolonged period of time can cause damage to the foundation. It also increases the risk of mold growth which will further compound costs to fix the damage.
3) Get Your Basement as Dry as Possible
It goes without saying that you should remove any wet, soggy, or even damp furniture, carpet, rugs, and items from your basement. You want to mitigate the damage and this includes mold. If you have access to fans and dehumidifiers, use them as soon as the basement is cleared of soggy items. You can also rent fans and dehumidifiers from your local hardware store. Once you’re on your way to drying out your basement, call your homeowner’s insurance company to see if you’re eligible for a claim.
4) Call a Local Plumber
It’s easy to forget that you need to call in the professionals but even after your basement seems dry, you should still call a plumber in metro-Detroit. Motor City Plumbing & Drain can diagnose what caused the flooding in the first place and then we can fix it. Whether your flood was caused by heavy rains or by a clogged drain, let the professionals help you and get help quickly. If you’re seeking help from your homeowner’s insurance company, they will likely want to know that you’re working with a professional plumber to fix the problem.
5) Clean and Sanitize the Area
After a few days, your basement should be relatively dry. Once dry, it’s time to clean and sanitize. When you’re dealing with a flood, there’s a lot of bacteria that can grow and it can make your household sick. Keep your doors and windows to the basement open to help provide proper ventilation. Grab your favorite sanitizing cleaner and start washing down your floors and walls. As you’re washing your walls, feel for any spots that aren’t dry. If your drywall is wet, it will likely need to be replaced by a handyman or general contractor. Once clean, give it another day or so to air out and make sure you call in a professional.