What To Do After a Basement Flood

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

After a Basement Flood, What Should I Do?

Flooding in your Cardiff, NJ, basement can cause serious problems. Fortunately, further damage can often be prevented with quick and careful action.

Potential Issues
A basement flood can lead to a variety of other problems. Some of the most common are the following:

• Electrical hazards
  
• Mold growth
  
• Structural damage
  
  

Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, so it is extremely important to be mindful of all sources of electricity in a flooded room. Before you begin cleaning, turn off the power to the basement. Do not use any electronic devices or appliances until an electrician has told you that it is safe to do so.
Mold growth and structural damage are less immediate threats but should still be prevented if possible. Fungus can begin to grow on wet items within 24 hours. Additionally, the longer your items are wet, the more likely they are to suffer structural degradation. Therefore, it is important to dry out the area as soon as possible.

Cleanup Process
The first step to take in cleaning a water-damaged basement is finding and stopping the source of the flooding. Pipe repair and other necessary actions should be completed before you begin drying. It won’t do any good to dry out the basement if a pipe is still leaking. Once the source of the water has been addressed, it is time to begin drying and cleaning the area. Use wet/dry vacuums or pumps to remove standing water and fans or dehumidifiers to pull out any remaining moisture. Then sanitize all affected areas, and throw away anything that cannot be completely sanitized and dried. When everything is clean and dry, begin making repairs or procuring replacements for damaged items.
Basement flooding is a fairly common problem that can happen to anyone. Fortunately, taking adequate safety precautions and acting quickly decreases the likelihood of many of the associated risks occurring.