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6 steps to deal with a flooded basement

A flooded basement impacts the homeowner’s mental, physical, and financial well-being. One has to spend hours salvaging the property and items in the basement may face irreversible damage. However, flooding does not necessarily mean one needs to give up their basement. Certain measures must be taken to ensure the water is pumped out and the damage is rightly assessed. This assessment can help determine the budget and the steps to be taken for basement restoration.

Who to call when dealing with a flooded basement?

Home insurance company
Every homeowner recognizes the power of a decent home insurance policy. There are items that these insurances do not cover, and often, flooding is one of them. However, there is no harm in checking. Under some instances and policies, this mishap might bring the owner some relief through partial coverage. When one notices any flooding in their basement, the first thing to do is to ensure that everyone is safe. Right after, get in touch with the home insurance policy company or the agent associated with the provider.

National Flood Insurance
The National Flood Insurance Program was initiated by the government to provide flood insurance for people in need. Communities or even individuals can sign up for the policy. Most communities that are based in high flood areas agree to the policy sign-up. It helps protect the area’s residents from any future flooding. Check if the property complies with the policies of the NFIP and if it qualifies for coverage. If not, individuals can look for other financial options that can help in the repair and restoration process of the flooded basement.

Professionals
With a flooded basement, one may be stumped about the cleaning process. The simplest and the most efficient thing to do is call the professionals. Depending on the amount of flooding and the damage it has caused, one might need more than one professional. One needs to call the plumbers for issues like leaks and broken pipes, while electricians will need to be called to deal with all wiring issues and other electrical problems. If the water has gotten into or damaged any electrical outlets or switchboards, the electricians can make the necessary repairs to avoid accidental electric shocks. Restoration service providers are necessary if there is extensive damage to the property. Also, call in waterproofers so that the basement has some insulation against the next flooding incident, if any.

Steps to take:

Start pumping
The process of pumping the water out must be started as soon as possible. The thing to remember is that the longer there is waterlogging in the basement, the more extensive the aftermath and the damage will be. If possible, one should not wait for professionals to get there to start pumping. The wait can contribute to bigger problems in the long run. This step should be completed as soon as possible.

Remove the dirt and mud
The next thing on the to-do list, after the water has been pumped out, is the removal of the dirt, mud, and debris it leaves behind. The longer this is left to make a home in the basement, the more problematic it can prove to be. One may even have to tackle mud caked on the furniture, floor, and on the walls. Use a broom, a vacuum cleaner, and any other cleaning equipment at home to make sure the mud is cleaned up. If it is widespread and more than one can handle, call the professional cleaners immediately.

Sort out the damaged and intact items
The basement usually has things that one does not necessarily use every day. In fact, in most cases, these might be things that people use a few times a year or have even forgotten they own. That does not lessen the burden of sorting through the damage a flooded basement leaves behind. There might be things that will need to be discarded due to extensive water or debris damage. Electronics might be the items that have been hit hardest. Evaluate all the things that can be used and the ones that no longer serve any purpose. Divide up the piles and send the damaged goods off to be recycled or repurposed.

Check if anything can be salvaged
Before throwing stuff out, check if they can be salvaged or not. Some items might be recyclable, and that will help save the environment from further pollution. This step might also help determine which of the items can be reused and will reduce the financial burden of restocking the damaged items. For example, if the bottom half of an old cabinet has taken the brunt of water damage, a good cleaning or restoration session could bring it back to its former glory. Even if there are things that can be salvaged or are completely okay to reuse, remove them from the basement for the time being. This will ease the proper cleaning of the basement and leave no corner untouched, which may become a breeding ground for microbial activity otherwise.

Start disinfecting
The next step is to ensure that the basement will be disinfected or sanitized. This is crucial because basement flooding can also damage the walls and carpet. It can result in numerous microbes and disease-causing bacteria. Disinfecting the stuff that was occupying the basement is, therefore, crucial after the flood. Do not forget the customary mold check. Call in any additional professionals if necessary. This is not something to leave unchecked and unresolved when restoring the basement.

Think of the budget
Cleaning up a flooded basement can be a costly affair. It can take up valuable time, money, and other resources and still need additional work. So, one must be prepared for the average cost of repair and restoration to tally up to between $3000 and $7000. The cost can vary based on the extent of damage caused; however, the average cost is usually around $4000, which can help most homeowners get a good idea of the funds required.

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