719-388-8509
Emergency Flood Water Elimination
AT YOUR DOOR WITHIN 45 MINUTES OR LESS
24Hr Flood Water Removal From Your Home
24Hr Flood Water Removal From Your Business
24/7/365 WATER/FLOOD/SEWAGE ELIMINATION SERVICE
Quick Response Is Extremely Important To Prevent Mold Growth
We Work For You Not The Insurance Company
We Have Extensive Experience Working With Insurance Companies
We Get You Every Penny You Deserve From Your Adjuster
Indoor Flooding From Rain
There is nothing worse than waking up to a flooded basement or main level of your home if you don’t have a basement. Most people use their basements as storage areas or laundry rooms. Therefore, it is expected that if the water is not removed immediately, there will be a lot of damage to personal possessions. Here are a few tips to help any homeowner deal with a flooded basement in the best way possible.
Flood Health And Safety Advice
For the homeowners who are in doubt about entering the basement, it is prudent to wait for a professional before attempting anything. To keep his or her personal health and safety as well as that of the family, the individual should consider doing the following things.
First, there is a risk of electrocution, if water has flooded in the basement. Therefore, try to turn off the electricity to the house. Some breaker switches are usually installed in the basement. So, it’s advisable for the owner to assess the risk of turning off the power or waiting for a professional to do it. The same case goes for the gas line. In the event of gas leaks, the owner and his/her family should leave the house immediately.
Secondly, if the basement has flooded as a result of a burst sewage pipe, there is always the risk of pollution. Remember, the water can contain bacteria that can easily transmit disease. Therefore, before attempting to clean out the water, the individual should always wear protective gear. Afterwards, always should wash the face and body thoroughly to avoid any contamination.
Also, during the removal process, there is likely exposure from various chemicals such as those being used for the cleaning process. Therefore, the house should be adequately ventilated to minimize the exposure as much possible. On the other hand, disinfection is necessary before and after cleaning out the flooded water to prevent contracting diseases.
Although most people might ignore this step, keep in mind that structural integrity of the house might be affected by a basement flooding disaster. Therefore, for those who are worried about any structural damage such as weak walls, calling an expert is the best idea.
Flooding Is Becoming Common. Are You In A Flood Zone
Many homeowners have awakened to water in their basements after heavy rainstorms. As a matter of fact, this catastrophe has become so common that restoration companies are sprouting up all over, ready to take care of any emergencies. For those homeowners who have experienced the water in basement scenario for the first time, here are the best removal tips.
Besides being a nuisance, a flooded basement is also an electrocution hazard. That is why the homeowner needs to find ways to remove the water before going into the basement. For instance, if there is about an inch of water flooding the basement with the electricity service panel being in the same location, some safety measures can come in handy.
For instance, the homeowner should consider placing some lumber, a plastic step stool or a step ladder made out of fiberglass to access the service panels. After switching the power of that goes to the basement, the next step is plugging a vacuum to the electrical outlets upstairs to start pumping out the water. The extension cord to the vacuum should always be out of the water. Also, the individual should wear rubber boots during the whole process to avoid further electrical accidents.
On the other hand, if the water has completely flooded the service panels, the best resolution is to contact the fire department. This way, the whole house can be disconnected from the power grid safely before any removal processes can commence. The presence of an electrician or a fire department employee will come in handy.
Once the home is safely disconnected, clearing out the water and assessing the damage is the next step. When going into the basement, there should always be another individual standing by to make sure that the homeowner comes back up safely. Also, in the event of another accident, the other person can always contact the emergency services.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a flooded basement will be slippery, slimy and littered with various types of debris. Therefore, the homeowner should always be careful and cautious when going down there. There might also be some structural damage to the walls or support pillars found in the basement. That is why it is not prudent to put all the weight on these elements.
Why you should call A Flood Restoration Company
In the event of flooding in the basement, the first person to call would be a water extraction company to remove the water and a plumber to shut off the water mains to prevent further damage. If the flooding was caused by a burst sewage pipe, you should contact a local restoration company immediately to remove the contaminated water using the safest way possible.
Other experts that you should consider calling include the insurance company as well as restoration experts. Take lots of photos and documentation for the insurance company to account for the overall cost of damage. Secondly, choose a restoration company that will act immediately to prevent further damage to your basement from the flooded water.
Basement flooding catastrophes have become quite familiar. Any homeowner should be armed with the proper procedures for handling the disaster whenever it happens. These useful tips should come in handy for such an event.
Fortunately, there are some simple things that can be done to make your basement more moisture-proof. While some water may inevitably find its way into this space, with the right steps, you can create a more effective barrier that will help you get a lot more use out of your basement.
One of the first things that you need to do is figure out where the moisture is coming from. In most cases, water gets into a basement in one of two ways. Either it condenses from the air due to excess humidity or it seeps in from outside. Rain, melting snow and groundwater can all enter your basement if there are any cracks in the walls.
Foil Is A Simple Way To Determine Water Intrusion
A simple way to determine where the water is coming from is to tape a sheet of aluminum foil to your basement wall. Leave it there for a few days and then take a look at it. If there is moisture behind the foil, this means water is coming in from outside. Water on the front of the foil indicates excess humidity.
If the problem is the result of humidity, you need to make sure that the air in your basement is as dry as possible. Seal off your dryer vent to ensure that the air is being vented outside rather than escaping into your basement. Installing an exhaust fan can help, as well. Running a dehumidifier in your basement will also remove water vapor from the air.
Is Water Coming In From The Outside
If the water is coming in from outside, you will need to take steps to both divert water away from your home and prevent water from entering the structure. Regarding the soil around your home so that it slopes away from your house will prevent rainwater or melting snow from collecting near the foundation.
Your home needs to have gutters that are of an adequate capacity to channel rain away from your home. Make sure that your gutters are free of obstructions by cleaning them regularly or installing gutter guards. Your downspouts should be at least 8 to 10 feet long to guide water away from your home.
Painting the walls of your basement with waterproof paint will create a barrier that helps keep moisture out of your home. Be sure to clean the masonry first to remove any material and then go over the entire wall with a layer of paint. Be sure to apply the paint thickly enough that the barrier is effective.
Dealing with a wet basement can be a real headache, but there are steps you can take to keep it as dry as possible. Once you have identified the source of the problem, the right approach will help your basement stay dry year-round.
How To Prevent Water in Basement
After going through such an ordeal, it is common sense to put some preventive measures in place to make sure it never happens again. For instance, installing some foundation drains both in the interior and exterior would work well. On the other hand, there should always be a secondary sump pump to remove the water if the main one fails.
It’s not pleasant to wake up to a flooded basement. If there are enough preventive measures in place, the ordeal can be avoided. However, if it happens, the owner should always exercise extreme caution to prevent life-threatening accidents, such as electrocution or gas leaks.
OUR SERVICES LISTED BELOW
24/7/365 Emergency Water Removal
No Extra Charge For After Hours 719-388-8509
Lower-Cost Raw Sewage Cleanup
Professional Sewage Cleanup-Certified Clean 719-388-8509
Wet Crawlspace Water Removal
Wet Crawlspace Water Removal & Dry-Out 719-388-8509
Fresh Water Pipe Burst Cleanup
45 Minutes To Your Doorstep 719-388-8509
Professional Flood Damage Cleanup
Property Flooded From Heavy Rain? CALL 719-388-8509
Roof Leaking? Free Attic Inspection
Wet Attic = Mold Growth 719-388-8509

Contact Us