It’s that time of year — Spring turning to Summer. While April showers bring May flowers, they also tend to bring along an unwanted guest — FLOODED BASEMENTS.
Rain is good. That’s a fact. Precipitation has a dramatic effect on agriculture. All plants need at least some water to survive. Plus, rain makes our lawns green, right? Who doesn’t want a green lawn? But heavy precipitation can be devastating to homeowners, especially those who live in or near flood plains.
Let’s face it, unexpected water in your basement is not a good thing. Water can damage walls and floors, destroy carpeting and padding, ruin furniture and personal belongings, and can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria and mold. Water damage in your basement can cause some major damage to those irreplaceable items like photo albums, antiques, and family heirlooms.
Keep this in mind — the majority of homes will end up having water in the basement at some point during its lifetime. It’s not a question of if it will happen, but rather a question of when it will happen.
So what do you do if you have water in your basement?
Well, I’m glad you asked. CleanUSA has compiled a list of seven simple things you should do if you find water in your basement.
1. Protect Yourself.
It’s possible that you’re probably not sure what’s in the water invading your basement or where it came from upon first discovery. Keep in mind the potential hazards — like if the water is sanitary (it could contain E. Coli or other harmful bacteria.) Similarly, what if the water just came out of the hot water heater and is still boiling hot? Protect yourself by wearing gloves and waterproof boots. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
2. Shut off the electricity to the basement.
It doesn’t matter how much water you have — water and electricity don’t play well together. Water conducts electricity making it extremely dangerous and deadly. You do not want to be literally shocked by this reality.
3. Investigate the cause.
You will need to find the cause of the water in the basement. If the flood is the result of a broken pipe, turn off the water at the shut-off valve. If the water in the basement is from a clogged drain, try to unblock or unclog the drain.
4. Air it out!
You may want to open any available windows or doors to let the fresh air in. What if the water was from a sewage backup? Yeah, open a window. Yuck.
5. Get it out!
Do your best to remove any of the standing water from the basement or the affected areas. Shop vacs work the best if you decide to handle this task yourself BUT, I will caution you — this can take a long time. Hiring a professional to remove the water in the basement may be your best bet. Professionals can be found in the yellow pages under “water damage” or “flood damage.” If you have water damage in Rockford, Dekalb, Naperville, or any surrounding communities in Illinois, you can call Clean USA at 877-754-1226 or fill out our contact form.
6. Throw it out!
When in doubt, throw it out. If you have any wet or damaged furniture, carpeting, or other belongings, you may want to consider throwing them out. Especially if you have decided to do the work yourself. A professional will have the tools, drying equipment, and expertise to dry out and save most if not all of your valuables.
7. Most importantly, disinfect every area.
Every single area that has been touched by the water needs to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. This is probably the most time-consuming and difficult part, BUT IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT! You will want to start by scrubbing each area (split areas up into small sections) using hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. You don’t want to take any chances of bacteria or mold growth.
Contact CleanUSA When Your Basement Floods in Illinois
Our emergency flood clean-up services are available 24/7 in the Sycamore area. If you discover a rude awakening in the form of a flooded basement, even in the middle of the night, contact us right away. Minimize your risk of extensive, long-term damage with our professional water removal and basement restoration services.
