A flood in the house is many homeowners’ worst nightmare because it damages your home and can destroy various belongings. As you assess the damage, you may wonder, “What comes next?” This is a stressful situation, and you need to deal with the problem as soon as possible. In this guide, we’ve compiled the top steps to take if your basement floods so you can prevent further damage to your property.
Don’t Jump In
While you may want to spring into action to begin saving your belongings, this can be incredibly dangerous. Many homeowners have electronics in the basement, and entering those waters isn’t safe if these remain plugged in. Locate your circuit breaker to shut off the electricity. You’ll need to contact your electric company and ask them to temporarily shut off the power if the breaker box is in your basement.
Begin Removing the Water
Once it’s safe to enter the area, begin removing the water. If there’s a lot of water, you’ll need to use a pump to remove it or hire a company to do so. After doing this, there will still be moisture in the basement, so place a dehumidifier to absorb the access moisture. Skipping this could lead to the growth of mold or fungi, which can create hazards, especially for individuals with asthma or other respiratory-related conditions.
Clean the Floors
Once you’ve removed all the water, most recommend cleaning the floors to remove any dirt or bacteria that may be there. Use bleach or vinegar mixed with water to clean hard surfaces and rent a carpet cleaner for carpeted flooring. Once you’ve sanitized the area, turn the dehumidifier back on so it can dry out again.
Salvage What You Can
Sort through everything in the area to determine what you can save and what you lost to the flood. Some furniture may have extensive water damage and would be cheaper to replace than repair and restore. Dry off and wash any items you can save and keep them in another area of the house while you focus on repairing the basement.
Contact Your Homeowners Insurance
Most of us have homeowners insurance to help cover the cost of unexpected emergencies like this, so file a claim regarding the damage and expenses to see what they’ll cover. This type of repair can get expensive depending on the level of damage, and you shouldn’t have to pay for everything yourself.
Prevent a Repeat Incident
Stop this home emergency from happening again by hiring a contractor to waterproof your basement. This final task to do if your basement floods help protect your property and belongings in the event another heavy storm hits your area. A pro can help keep water out of your basement by checking your foundation and sump pump to determine where they need to make repairs. Keep your home safe so your household can remain happy and healthy.
