Follow these guidelines if you have water leaking in your basement.
Finding water in your basement is never an ideal situation. Regardless of if it is a small leak or a full-on flood, it’s important to respond in a safe, sensible way. Getting your basement dry depends on what you do, who you call, and what decisions you make!
First things first, stay safe!
Standing in water while handling any type of electrical device can cause shock or electrocution. If your basement is flooded and you must go down, be sure to wear rubber boots and stay dry. Do not touch electrical wires or devices.
Determine the cause to decide what type of contractor to call.
Try and find the source of the water. If it is coming from a water heater, a bad boiler valve or a burst pipe, that means you need to call a plumber. If the water is leaking through your foundation, basement floor or is coming in from basement windows, call a basement waterproofing contractor.
Pump out standing water as soon as possible.
You need to remove the water to be able to assess the damage. Additionally, standing water gives mold a chance to grow, which will only compound your damage costs. Try mopping up any water and only use a water vacuum if you have access to a dry outlet.
If you have a sump pump and your basement is still flooded, your sump pump has obviously failed. You will either want to purchase a replacement or if you don’t have one at all, it may be in your best interest to have one installed.
If you find more than two feet of water in your basement, don’t attempt to remove the water yourself. Contact a professional water remediation company to remove the water safely.
Remove any objects that got wet.
If your basement has flooded, you need to assess what materials can be dried out and what are best discarded. Paper, fabric, wood and leather all attract mold if they remain wet for more than a day or two. Dry out and save what you can, and throw out the rest.
If you have carpet in your basement, you most likely will need to rip up the carpet. It may be salvageable, but more times than not, the carpet and the padding will need replacing.
Dry out the area.
Once the standing water is removed, you want to take steps to dry out the area. Setting up fans and using a dehumidifier is your best bet to dry out the area and minimize the chance of mold growth. If you have a basement window that you can open without the chance of bringing in more water, that will also help with the damp smell.
Prevent Future Flooding!
If the water came in through egress windows, basement window wells, or through a crack in your foundation, you will want to contact the professional foundation repair team at Dry Basement®. We can help determine and fix problem areas, replace leaky basement windows and window wells, and fix foundation cracks and cracks in your basement floor. We also offer sump pump installations including battery backup pumps. If your electricity fails your battery backup pump will automatically take over.