Handling Water Damage Yourself

If you have had a flood situation occur where your basement floor becomes completely saturated with water, working fast to remove the flood water will help save some of your possessions from excessive damage. Here are some instructions for you to use when dealing with flooding in trying to keep damage minimal.

Remove The Water

Shut off the power to the basement level so that there is no risk of electrocution while you are working with water removal. Remove any furniture or electronics that you think are salvageable and place them in a warm area to dry. Turn furniture upside-down and remove any covers on electronics to aid in drying.

Ask a few friends to come help you scoop up water inside buckets to dump outside. Make sure everyone wears gloves and boots to protect their skin from stagnant water. Flood water harbors bacteria and mold spores, so it is best to keep covered as these are harmful to the skin. 

Have everyone dump out their buckets far from the home so water cannot get back inside. If you are able to find an electrical source nearby, or if you have an adapter to plug into your vehicle's electrical outlet, use an extension cord to use a water pump to remove the water. 

Dry The Basement

When you can no longer scoop or pump water, use large towels to sop up any puddles. Open all windows and doors to allow cross-ventilation to help dry the basement. When power is restored, use area fans to help dry out the rest of the room. Use a dehumidifier, as well.

Clean The Surfaces

Clean all areas touched by stagnant flood water with a mixture of one-half water, one-half bleach. This will kill all mold spores so they do not turn into black mold, which is very harmful as it causes respiratory problems if left in place. Remove wet drywall completely and replace with new pieces to avoid mold buildup from within the wall. After all surfaces are wiped down with the bleach solution, dry them with a clean towel. Follow-up with a commercial-grade mold and mildew remover.

Carpeting is another area to check for mold. Rip up wet wall-to-wall carpeting so the flooring underneath dries out thoroughly. Replace this carpeting as the carpet padding is an area mold buildup occurs. If you have area rugs, take them to a professional cleaning service to remove any mold spores embedded within the fibers. To learn more, contact a business like Spotless Carpet Cleaners & Janitorial Services Inc.