How to Dry Out a Flooded Basement

If your house has recently experienced a flood that turned your basement into a pool, you’ll need to take some immediate steps in order to avoid flood water damage. Water damage repair can be costly, and many homeowners are forced to toss out their valuable possessions due to damage from water. If your home has recently experienced a flood, here are a few quick tips on how to protect your basement from serious water damage.

There are a few safety measures that must be checked before you enter the flooded area. When a basement is wet, it can cause issues with your home’s electrical system. If you are able to safely reach your main breaker switches, turn off all the power in your home. This will reduce the risk of an electrical shock. If your basement is filled with chemicals, sewage pollutants, or has any structural damage, avoid entering the flooded area and contact water damage specialists immediately.

The first step to saving your basement from water damage is to dry out your basement. If your home does not have a water pump or wet vacuum, there are a few ways you can reduce the water level. Use old towels, buckets, and mops to soak up water. As you are moving the water out from your basement, make sure to pick up and belongings you want to salvage. The faster you move these items, the less likely they are to sustain serious water damage.

Once the water is out of the basement, assess any damage the room may have taken. If there are any parts of dry wall that absorbed water, you will likely have to cut off the pieces that are wet. When dry wall is wet, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Mold cleaning can be a lot more expensive than a new piece of drywall. If you have any rugs or carpets in your basement, they will most likely need to be rolled up and discarded.

To prevent the development of mold, make sure your basement is well ventilated, and gets as much sunlight as possible. Open all the windows in the basement, and increase the room’s ventilation with large fans to move the air around. A dehumidifier can also be used to suck up any leftover moisture that’s lingering in the rooms. Once the room is cleaned out, disinfect every surface that touched water. Your basement is saved!