Water In Your Basement – What To Do?

If you have water in your basement, it could be from any number of problems:

• cracked or leaking foundation
• cracked walls
• burst pipe in another area of the home or building
• Failed sump pump

This is just a few areas that can cause issues – the real first step is finding out what the source is. If you have continuous water coming in from a burst pipe, the first step to take is to turn off water to your home to stop adding water to the problem.

Once you have identified the source, you can begin to take steps to stop further damage from happening.

The first step is to get remaining water out as this is the source of building water and mold damage:

If your basement is flooded with water from the storm, the first order of business is drying it out. If you already have a sump pump installed, it should start working as soon as electricity is restored, says Doug Lynch, owner of A-1 Basement Solutions in Scotch Plains, N.J.

Don’t go in the basement if it floods and you have power, says the New York State Electric and Gas Company, because energized outlets and wiring below the flood water pose an electrocution hazard. Make sure your energy company has turned off power to your house before you enter a flooded basement.

MacDonald says to use common sense if running the sump pump from a basement outlet, and make sure the outlet is completely dry. “If the outlets are in water or were soaking in water, you’re not going to use them,” he says.

If you have a larger amount of water, in the several-feet range, you’ll need to call a professional company, says MacDonald. They’ll have the equipment to get it done quickly and safely.

After the flood water is pumped out, Lynch recommends opening the basement windows to increase air circulation and decrease the possibility of mold. “Put all the ventilation possible into the basement to dry it out before mold spreads.” Cleaning Up After A Basement Flood | Bankrate.com

Hopefully your home or business doesn’t become totally flooded and you are able to remove the small amount of water before it causes large damages. However, in the event of a flooding river or extreme foundation issues, you may have a larger task ahead of you.

A Tough Tale Of A Flooded Home

Water, Water Everywhere

“Instantly, water filled the basement faster than I could keep up.” Just before the water reached the waist-high electrical outlets, Fink decided to evacuate.

“We wanted to get rid of the stuff as quickly as possible, because mold spores appear in 24 to 48 hours after a flood,” he says.

Seven men shoveled out the sludge, kicked out the lightweight wooden partition walls in the basement, and carried out the losses: a washing machine, dryer, freezer, furnace, and electrical box, along with furniture and memorabilia.

“Unfortunately, when floods come from water that’s been outside, the water is contaminated and it’s hard to save any walls, carpets, or contents,” says DiPrima.Job done?

Only if Fink wanted a house full of bacteria and mold.

When we spoke to him a few months after the flood, he was replacing his basement windows and fixing the back entryway by himself, because his insurance didn’t include labor costs.

 
The Bill:

Flood Cleanup Floor and wall sanitation (at $1.25 per square foot): $1,920

Trash removal: $500

Dehumidifiers and fans : $1,230

Fogger treatments: $950

Total: $4,600

 

Follow-up Work

Duct cleaning: $225

Additional cleanup (dehumidifier, wet vacuum): $275

Equipment refurbishment and replacement: $10,865

Total: $11,365

Grand total: $15,965 Water, Water Everywhere | Basements & Foundations | This Old House

The numbers can be scary in a situation like this, but keep in mind that if you delay in this type of situation you can multiply the amount of damages and the time and cost to fix them. If you’re unsure of the best steps, or just need help with water damages, contact us today – Origin Water Pros services all areas of the US: http://originwaterpros.com/service-locations/

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