What a sinking feeling it is to walk down to your basement and discover several inches of water on the floor. What can you do to solve the problem fast? How much damage is there? what will this mess cost? Don’t panic. Be prepared before there is a wet basement emergency. Have a list of 6 steps to take and who to call handy. The important things are to make sure the family is safe and the water is drained out. Next, the cause must be found and remedied.
What Causes Wet Basements or Basement Flooding?
Basements always have a reason for flooding. To stop this from happening, we must find the cause and fix it. Some common basement flooding causes include the home being located in the wrong place. They can be built on a slope or in a low spot or in a spot with bad drainage. Fortunately, there are ways to fix this. By contacting helitechonline.com, a homeowner can get advice and schedule an inspection by licensed professionals who are trained to fix wet basement issues.
The next common cause for wet basements and flooding of the basement is poor construction of basement floors and walls. If the builder cut corners and did not use proper sealing for the floors and walls, water can get in. These deficits can be fixed with proper sealers and repairs.
A blocked sewer system can cause water to back up into the home and the drain pipes will need to be cleaned out. Another blockage that causes trouble can be the home’s gutter system being full of debris. This causes rainwater to overflow too close to the home foundation causing pressure and leaks in the foundation.
A drainage system that is improperly installed or doesn’t exist can cause water to pool next to the foundation walls causing flooding during storms. Needing a sump pump and not having one or having a broken sump pump can allow water into the basement. And finally, broken water pipes can really cause a flooded mess.
6 Important steps to Take When the Basement Floods
Once the basement is flooded, there are 6 steps a homeowner needs to take to solve the problem and keep the family safe.
- The first step is always making sure the family members are safe. Don’t enter a flooded basement until the power is shut off. Water makes getting an electrical shock a possibility. Consider that the flood water can hold dangerous bacteria and chemicals. If the homeowner must enter the flooded basement they should wear rubber boots and protective gear. Better yet call an electrician and wet basement expert first thing. Helitech experts can handle flooded basements safely.
- Get the water drained as fast as possible to limit the damage to the home and its furnishings and appliances. Nothing can be accomplished until the water removal company has done their work. When the water is gone, the homeowner can retrieve their possessions and determine what can be saved and what must be replaced.
- The experts must find the source of the leak and repair it. Or if it is a drainage, structural, or grading problem, they must correct that defect.
- Get all the belongings out of the basement and start repairing them as soon as possible. This will include drying them out and cleaning them to get rid of stains and bacteria.
- Call the home insurance company right away so their insurance adjuster can visit the site and determine the monetary amount of damage and submit a claim for the homeowner.
- This is the most important step for the future. Hire the water abatement company to start repairing and waterproofing the basement so flooding will not happen in the future.
Waterproofing Options for Basements
When a basement has flooding or water leakage problems the homeowner must take steps to fix the problems that cause the water problems. There are options such as sealing walls and floors, installing a sump pump, and correcting the grading and drainage system on the outside of the home. The waterproofing experts can find a solution.
