Cleaning A Flooded Basement
If you have had a flood situation occur where your basement has become saturated with water, you will want to work swiftly in removing moisture from the area to help save it from excessive damage. There are many steps that need to be taken when working at restoring a water-damaged area. If there are several homes in your area that obtained flooding due to a hurricane or excessive rainfall, you may need to do the work on your own due to a shortage of contractor availability. Here are some instructions to follow should a water damage restoration service be unavailable to give you hand.
Get Water Out
Before you can make repairs to water damaged areas, every bit of water needs to be removed from your basement. If you still have electricity, it is best to turn it off so you do not risk electrocution as you work in the flooded area. Switch off the breakers that power your basement.
If you still have power upstairs or if you have a power adapter to plug into your vehicle, you will be able to use a water pump via extension cord to remove the water. If not, you will need to use buckets to remove it manually. Ask a few friends to give you a hand in scooping out the water. Make sure everyone helping is clothed appropriately with gloves, waders and waterproof clothing so that bacteria does not get on the skin. Make sure any water dumped or pumped is redirected to an area at a lower level than your foundation so it does not seep back into the home.
Try Salvaging Items
Bring larger pieces of wood furniture outdoors to dry. Place them upside-down so any moisture trapped within will drip out to the ground. If you have electronics that were only partially submerged, they may be salvageable as well. Take off battery covers and remove batteries to help dry the components inside.
Dry The Area
After the bulk of the water is removed, sop up any puddles with heavy-duty towels and hang them outside to dry. Set up several large oscillating fans on the floor and place area fans in windows to help dry the surfaces where water was prevalent. Keep windows and doors open for a day or two to allow cross-ventilation to help with the drying process. Afterwards, set up a dehumidifier along with several buckets of charcoal briquettes to trap any moisture in the air. Avoid putting on your heat as this will increase the humidity level in your home, making it harder to remove moisture.
Clean All Surfaces
All surfaces touched by water will need to be cleaned thoroughly to remove any risk of mold buildup. Use a household cleaner with bleach in the ingredients to do the cleansing. Remove carpeting and throw away the carpet pad underneath. This acts as a sponge and will contract mold very easily underneath your carpeting where it is not seen. Air-dry the floor underneath and place a new carpet pad in its place. Have the carpeting professionally cleaned before replacing.
Any wet drywall will need to be cut from the walls and replaced, as this material is prone to black mold. After you clean all areas that were submerged with a household cleaner, wipe down the surfaces again with distilled white vinegar. This will kill any mold spores before they have a chance to grow.
For more information, talk to a company like Ringstad Carpet Cleaning & Restoration.