What to do if the basement floods
Use a wet vac or hire a professional to remove water fast and avoid mould growth
Did your basement take a hit in one of the recent summer storms?
Downpours in July and August can quickly flood your basement and create a real mess. Wading through soggy boxes of books, soaking carpeting, floating dog food bowls and sopping sofas, you might feel paralyzed as to what to do.
But don’t delay. Experts say you should act quickly to mop up from water damage caused by clogged drains, faulty sump pumps or backed-up gutters. Mould can start to grow within a couple of days. And you’ll want to retrieve damp possessions and dry them out as soon as possible.
For safety reasons, call your power company, an electrician or a professional flood cleanup company if you have a large amount of standing water in your basement. You may have to disconnect the service before walking into the water. Don’t touch anything electrical.
If you have a wet basement, get on it. Hot and moist summer weather can mean thunderstorms and derechos on the horizon, bringing more water to your woes.
Here are five tips for dealing with water in your basement. Remove water Get water out as soon as possible. A few inches of standing water can usually be removed with a wet vac. If you don’t have a wet vac, buy one or at least rent one. Major water damage may need a professional. If your damage is minor, you can use towels to wipe the water up, but they should be immediately washed and dried to prevent mould from growing. Dry it out Use dehumidifiers and fans to move air around, discouraging the growth of mould and mildew. Keep dehumidifiers at least six to eight inches away from walls for the best air circulation. Clean and wash their filters once every week or so to help the fan operate efficiently. Run your A/C constantly.
Throw away any wet boxes. Scrub flooring Vinyl tile, linoleum and other hard surfaces can be scrubbed with a solution of no more than 250 mL (one cup) of chlorine bleach to 4 litres ( 16 cups) water. Wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear and keep the room ventilated. Examine and clear gutters, downspouts and drains Put on your rubber gloves and check basement steps and drains. Get rid of any leaves, twigs and mud. Remove the drain screen and give it a good cleaning and, if necessary, use a plunger or plumber’s snake to clear the drain. Muck out gutters and downspouts around the house. Freeze your assets If valuable documents or cherished papers have been dampened, you might try quickly putting them in the freezer. This may stop mildew growth and deterioration until you can attend to them later.
Resolve to use concrete blocks to keep possessions off the floor and not to store anything of value in the basement. Plastic storage bins are far better than cardboard boxes for basement use.