Nothing wrecks the beauty of spring like a basement flood. If you’re one of the unfortunate souls who ends up with rising waters this year, here’s how you can handle the problem.
Get the water out. The first step is to remove water as soon as safety allows. The longer water sits, the more damage it does. If the flooding is weather related, you may have to wait until the storm has passed. Depending on how much there is you can remove water with towels and sponges or a wet-dry vacuum. If the flooding is severe, you can hire a specialist to pump the water out.
Dry everything off. Set up a dehumidifier to draw out as much moisture as possible. Move anything you want to save out of the basement and into a dry, well-ventilated space. Let items dry completely before putting them away. If you have carpet or dry wall, remove what was damaged to prevent mold and mildew.
Fix the problem. A basement shouldn’t flood in the first place. Flooding may be due to burst pipes, broken pumps, bad seals, foundation problems and more. Solutions range from easy fixes, like clearing clogged gutters, to major interventions. Whatever the solution, do everything you can to make it happen. Otherwise, you’ll end up underwater again in the future.
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