There are certain steps you can take after a basement flood to help minimize the damage and make the restoration less time-consuming. It is also important to handle a basement flood appropriately to reduce the risk of harm to yourself or others, particularly due to an increased risk of electrical issues following a basement flood.
This review highlights the steps you should take after a basement flood to remain safe and ensure the damage is properly covered by your insurance provider.
Most importantly, it is important to contact a water damage restoration company after a basement flood and remember never to enter the basement until the electricity is shut off. While every basement flood is unique, there are steps you can follow to minimize the damage caused by the flood.
Notably, this includes shutting off the power to the basement, removing standing water, removing items that are wet, and filing an insurance claim. Here are the steps to take immediately after a basement flood.
You should never enter a flooded basement immediately after it occurs. Instead, the first thing you should do is shut off the power to the garage. If your circuit breaker is in the basement, then you will need to call an electrician.
If your circuit breaker is not in your basement and you can safely access it and know how to shut the power to your basement off properly, then you may be able to do so. However, when there is any doubt, it is imperative that you call an electrician to ensure your safety.
Once you know for sure that the power to the basement is turned off, then you can enter and begin to remove standing water.
Water that sits in your basement for an extended amount of time can cause significant damage, so removing it quickly is important. You may be able to soak up a fair amount of water with a pump and with towels.
However, it is important to call a water damage restoration company to ensure the proper cleanup of water and reduce the extent of the water damage.
If your basement has flooded, then the odds are that much of what is in your basement has gotten wet. Place all items in sunlight, if possible, to allow them to dry. Hopefully, your insurance provider can replace all items that were damaged in the flood.
You will likely need to remove the carpet as well after a basement flood. A water damage restoration company can likely handle this for you. However, to minimize the damage, remove as much as you possibly can out of the basement.
It is important to file an insurance claim as soon as possible after the flood occurs. Depending on the type of coverage, they may cover the costs for all items that need to be replaced and the cost of labor for the water damage restoration company, along with a range of other potential coverages for costs you may accrue.
It is best to call a water damage restoration company early in the process after a basement flood. While there are steps you can take to minimize the long-term damage the flood has caused, hiring a professional is often necessary to ensure there are no long-lasting effects (i.e. mold growth.).
A water damage restoration company can ensure you are able to restore your home to how it was pre-flood in a convenient time frame and in the most cost-efficient manner that they possibly can.
It is important to learn what caused the flood in the first place. Common causes include flooding from a heavy storm, cracks in the foundation, an outdated or clogged sump pump, and issues with your gutters.
Once you determine the root cause of the flooding, then you can take proper action to prevent it from happening again. The water damage restoration company you hire should assess the cause of the flooding and notify you of any potential concerns moving forward.
You may need to replace the sump pump or fix issues with your home’s foundation, among a range of other potential concerns that may need to be addressed.
Here at Monumental Contractors, we offer damage restoration to help you restore your basement after a flood. We ensure fast service is provided to keep the amount of damage to a minimal level, thus reducing the overall stress and cost the difficult situation causes. If you need fast restoration after a basement flood, then reach out to us today.