Dealing with a flooded basement can cause one major headache; consider all of the points in this article for not only cleaning your flooded basement but also preventing your basement from flooding again. There are numerous ways to both clean and protect your basement in either case. If you know your home is prone to flooding and are looking for ways to deal with the cleanup until you can figure out ways to prevent the flooding altogether, then the best thing you can consider is the right way to clean up your basement to prevent any damage.
Flooded Basement Cleanup
The best ways to cleanup a flooded basement really depend on the amount of water that has made its way into your home. In minor cases, where the water is less then 1 or 2 inches, you can get away with using a wet dry vacuum although you should be aware of the fact that you will need to empty out the holding chamber as frequently as it fills up which can be quite a task. The best solution for dealing with a lot water and heavy basement flooding is something called a sump pump. These pumps are heavy duty bad boys that are able to pump the water out of your basement via a long hose out into either a sewage drain or another location that can handle the massive amounts of water. It is worth mentioning that even in cases of minor flooding, a sump pump can be used in any kind of flooded basements.
The plan you establish and the method you intend to use should be planned well ahead of time, giving you plenty of spare time to get yourself situated and put your plan into action. The goal of the entire operation is to have the least amount of basement flood damage as possible. The sump pump is going to work faster then the vacuum and the advantage to the pump is that you can have many of them running at the same time to expedite the process. You should keep in mind that if your basement electrical plugs are submerged under water then you are going to need water-proof extension cords that are able to be run from an upstairs location to the pumps in your basement.
Always try to find a hose long enough to run from the pump in your basement out to a sewer drain. Running the hose from your pump and out through your basement window is only going to make your flooded basement problem worse as the ground surrounding your home is already saturated enough and will not hold anymore water thus returning it right back into your basement. Turning on the heat in your home or introducing fans into your basement will help to evaporate the water out of your basement and move it out into the outside air. Once the bulk of the water has been removed you can begin to use dehumidifiers to remove any excess water and prevent mold and mildew from forming; always close the windows and doors to your basement while running the dehumidifier and make sure to change the unit storing the water frequently.
If you feel the cleanup task is something that is out of your hands, you can either choose to rent your equipment, borrow it or seek out the services of a flooded basement cleanup company who can assist you professionally.
The best basement flood protector is to fix the cause of the problem. As your home ages or shifts with its old age cracks will begin to expose themselves and form in the foundation of your home. When it begins to rain and the ground around your home becomes to saturated the water seeps into the ground and through your cracks. Before worrying about the foundation of your home being cracked, check your gutters and make sure they are cleaned and working properly to deter the water down from your roof and away from the side of your home properly into the streets. Clogged gutters are one of the biggest causes of flooding inside any basement. The best way to deal with a flooded basement is to not deal with one at all; try to check your gutters and make sure they are clean, if they are functioning properly and you are still getting flooded then it might be time to call in a contractor and consider having them fix any cracks in the siding of your foundation – be prepared, though, as this is an expensive job.
