You walk down to your basement and witness a horror show – a flooded basement! You are trying to wade through soaking carpets, furniture, boxes and other floating belongings; you feel helpless and clueless as to what to do next. The first thing that comes to your mind is how do I fix this mess and limit the damage?
While you may feel the need to anaylse the situation and then deal with the aftermath, exercising immediate action is key to preventing the situation from getting worse. Leave it unattended for a while and you could invite serious water damage and mould problems. To avoid any hazards, it is crucial to cleanup and remediate the place as soon as possible. This way you will also have a chance of salvaging your possessions.
If there’s a lot of standing water in your basement, call an electrician and a professional flood cleanup company straightaway. Make sure to shut off power and gas supply before entering the flooded basement. Avoid touching any electrical items.
Below are tips that will help you deal with a flooded basement, prevent extensive damage and keep your family safe.
Remove water:
Start the water removal process as soon as possible. Wear rubber gloves, boots and other protective gear before entering the flooded basement. Use a sump pump to drain maximum standing water followed by use of a mop, cloth, or towels to wipe up any remaining water. You could also use a wet vacuum if there’s less amount of standing water. In case, the water level is several feet deep, contact a professional water damage restoration company like One Prime Remedial Solutions for help.
Remove damp items:
Before you begin drying the basement, make sure to remove all wet items such as books, sofa, clothes, etc. Move them to a place that has good ventilation so they can dry out. Apart from removing these items, rip up the wet carpeting. There may be a chance of salvaging the carpet. Consult a carpet cleaning company to know if the carpet can be restored or needs replacement.
Dry the area:
Your basement is going to need some good drying. Use fans and dehumidifiers to circulate air, get rid of excess moisture, help dry your basement faster and discourage mould growth. It’s also good to keep your air conditioning running.
Wash the flooring and clean walls:
Scrub your vinyl, linoleum flooring and other hard surfaces to remove all dirt, using a solution of one cup of chlorine bleach with a gallon of water. Ensure the room has sufficient ventilation, and don’t forget to keep your protective gear on. Clean walls thoroughly using warm water and soap or bleach. Use dehumidifiers and blowers to speed up drying. To filter out mould spores, you can set up a HEPA air purifier. Replace damaged drywall and insulation.
Contact your insurance company:
If you have flood insurance, get in touch with your home insurance company to find out what damages are covered and file a claim.
If you’re looking for a water damage restoration company to clean and repair your flooded basement, look no further. Contact One Prime Remedial Solutions for complete flood cleanup and water damage restoration on 1300 774 631.