5 Tips on What to Do When Your Basement is Flooded

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For many homeowners, their basements are not waterproof. Every time it rains, water enters into the basement and floods it. It causes flood for the basement no matter if it is a light or heavy rain. So, in winter, snow is likely to enter into the basement and cause a water puddle when it melts. Frequent flooding can lead to wood rot on the basement structure and mould development. The following are 5 tips on what to do when faced with basement flooding disasters.

  1. Safety Priority

First, you need to make sure that it is safe to enter the basement. There is a chance that you can get electrocuted if the water reaches the level of the electrical outlet. As a rule of thumb, it is not safe to enter the water if it is more than 2 inches deep. In this case, you should call Newcastle plumbers to pump out the water.. You have to try to get to the main electrical service panel and turn off the power for the basement electricity. An electrician will be able to help you turn off the power. The gas tank in your basement also needs to be shut off. You can call the gas company to shut off the gas.

  1. Determine the Source of Water

Next, you must determine where the flood water comes from. If not, you can ask your plumber to identify the source of the water damage. You will save time if you know the source of the floodwater as the plumber can quickly stop the flow without having to perform an inspection. Rainwater often comes through the wall, foundation and windows.

Flood water coming from the floor drain is an indication of a problem with the sump pump. The pool of water in your basement could also be from a broken pipe of your appliance. In this situation, you should shut off the water to the whole house and get a plumber to fix the plumbing.

  1. Removing Water and Drying the Basement

You have the option you use a submersible pump or a wet/dry vacuum to remove flood water that is several inches deep. In sunny weather, the windows of the basement should be opened to allow moisture to escape. Fans can be set up with the highest speed to blow the basement dry. If you use a dehumidifier, make sure you set it to the highest power and drain the water promptly.

  1. Remove Your Belongings

While the water is being pumped out by the submersible pump, you can enter into the water and move out your belongings. You have to make sure that all electronics are unplugged before removing your belongings. Personal belongings that are the most important should be prioritized including documents, family keepsakes, and electronics. After you have salvaged the important items, you can work on other less important items.

These items should be moved to a safe place above the ground. Some of your electronics will no longer work due to exposure to water. Fabric items that are not washed and dried for at least 48 hours will have to be discarded. You can rent a residential dumpster for items you want to dispose of.

  1. Install a Sump Pump

Having a sump pump in your basement is crucial if it frequently gets flooded. It saves you a lot of time and effort for having to empty the water manually if you have a sump pump. It will automatically turn on and drain away from the water outside the house. You can pour water into the pit to make sure the sump pump is working in good condition. The pipe that connects the sump pump to the outside drain should not be clogged so make sure you check it. If you don’t have a sump pump, you can call a plumber to install it at an affordable price.