Completely dry the carpet and the subfloor before replacing the carpet. Plan to replace the underlay padding because it is nearly impossible to clean. Dry out wooden floors gradually. If you try to dry the floors too quickly you could end up with a warped, cracked or split floor. Some restoration companies accelerate drying time by forcing air through the fluted underside of hardwood floorboards. You may also want to remove the floorboards or a board every few feet to reduce the risk of buckling caused by swelling. Even a completely finished basement is not immune to the dangers of flooding Ceilings and Walls Wallboard acts like a sponge when it's wet so you are going to have to remove wallboard, plaster and paneling to at least the flood level. If it was only soaked by clean rainwater you may want to consider cutting a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom and top of walls. This creates a chimney effect of air flow for faster drying. This will help dry out the studs and sills. The three kinds of insulation must be treated differently.
For Plumbing Leaks Plumbing leaks are caused by a burst or leaking pipe, waste line, washing machine supply hose or water tank or heater. Before you call a professional, you can stop most of the damage by turning off your water via the water shut-off valve. If your valve is buried in the ground, you might have to call a professional plumber with specific tools to turn it off. A plumber will also have access to a high-capacity pump that will be able to get all the water out of your basement before it sits too long and starts to soak into your drywall or carpeting. For Sewage Leaks Sewage leaks are caused by a septic tank backup or clogged sewer line. You'll want to start the cleanup process as soon as possible by first turning off your faucets and not flushing your toilets until the leak is addressed. However, most of the real cleanup should be left to the professionals, as sewage leaks can be hazards if not handled quickly and correctly. If you have a backed-up septic tank, you'll need a septic specialist; if the leak came from an outside city sewer service, you'll need to call your local sewage department to check the sewages in your neighborhood for clogs.
• Suit up in long sleeves, heavy pants, gloves, rubber boots and protective goggles. How Do You Sanitize an Unfinished Basement? Sanitizing the basement after a flood takes time and muscle. Mix 1 tablespoon of bleach with 1 gallon of water. Use the solution to wipe down unfinished walls and mop concrete floors. Leave all surfaces wet for several minutes. After the concrete dries, repeat the process one more time. How Do You Disinfect a Cement Floor? Disinfecting a basement floor after a sewer backup or storm flooding requires a strong cleaning solution. Mix a quarter cup of chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of warm water. Scrub the basement floor for at least five minutes. Let the solution set for another 10 minutes. Rinse well, let the floor dry, and repeat the process a second time. Stay Safe Before and After The job of disinfecting a basement comes with obvious health risks. Always wear protective gear. Work carefully so that you don't lose your footing. Follow these tips for staying safe before and after flooded basement cleanup.
When heavy rain or snow fall was the cause of your flood, the water pressure in the soil surrounding your foundation is likely high. The result is that the pool of water inside your basement is balancing the outside pressure. If the water is removed too rapidly the basement foundation walls may crack or even crumble. Removing the Water Pump one third of the water outside, or a maximum of 2 to 3 feet. Then mark the new water level on the wall. If the water level rose overnight, your basement is still flooding and you should wait to remove the rest. Continue to mark the wall so that you will be able to monitor the incoming water levels. However, do NOT finish pumping the water from your basement until the flooding has finished. When the water level stabilizes you can resume pumping the water outside until you have removed another third of the water. Again, mark the level on the wall and wait until the next day. Continue this process until all of the water has been removed. Use a wet/dry vacuum to pick up any small pools of water.
In other words, any part of your home's structure that has been in contact with water should be removed as a precaution. Test Kits for Dust Mites, Mold and Allergens The process of drying out your home can take several weeks, so you need to be patient; otherwise you may be left with a musty smell or even worse. Air blowers and high capacity dehumidifiers can be extremely useful in speeding up the drying process. STEP 4: Remove Wet, Damp and Contaminated Materials This can be very difficult part of flooded basement clean up, especially with emotional items like photographs or books which have sentimental value. The rule of thumb is if it isn't fully dried and cleaned within 48 hours, you are truly better off throwing the item out. I recommend carpets be always thrown out, but area rugs or bedding can be washed and dried or dry cleaned for restoration. If you do not make yourself do this, you run the risk for microbial contamination. Personally I tried throwing out the carpets first and then worked my way toward throwing out the stuff I lost.
But your photos and important papers you would think are gone for good can be saved if you freeze them. Wash the mud off and store the articles in plastic bags and put them in a frost-free freezer to protect them from mildew or other additional damage. When you have time, thaw the photos or documents and you can either clean them yourself or take them to a professional. Saving the Flooring: Carpet, Vinyl and Wood If you have wood subflooring, the vinyl, tile floor and carpeting must be removed so the subfloor can completely dry. The problem is: it may take months for the wooden subfloor to dry thoroughly. Open windows and doors to expose the boards to as much air as possible. You can save your carpet and rugs if you get them cleaned and dried quickly. If that icky sewage-contaminated floodwater saturated the rugs it is just better to throw them out then to try to salvage them. To clean, drape carpets and rugs outdoors and hose them down. Work in the disinfecting carpet cleaner with a broom and rinse with your bleach/water solution.
The basement water damage cleanup crews here at Insurance Restoration Pro in Chilliwack are incredibly educated about how to ensure that the Basement Flood Cleanup process done in your home is conducted swiftly and effectively, saving you time and money. Insurance Restoration Pro flooded basement restoration experts also will take any protective action needed to ensure mold does not grow if you call us immediately after when the water damage occurred. When done, we will ensure that your property is thoroughly dry! Call us today at 604–316–7075 to set up an immediate and free consultation. Flooded Basement cleanup Chilliwack Insur a nce Restoration Pro has many years of experience working with insurance companies, insurance agencies, insurance adjusters, and risk managers all over in Chilliwack and the surrounding areas. One of Insurance Restoration Pro's in-house basement flood cleanup insurance claims assistance experts will take the stress and burden of managing your flooded basement cleanup claim off your back so you can continue to live your life or run your business like you did before the disaster happened.
Have you descended into your basement to find standing water? Call Paul Davis Cleveland Metro today! Our highly skilled team of water mitigation technicians and restoration professionals are here to help with your basement flood cleanup needs. Standing water in your basement is not only messy and damaging, but can also be dangerous. If your basement has been flooded you should call Paul Davis immediately so that the damage does not get worse as your basement sits in water. Flooding Causes There can be many different causes of flooded basement, including: Water seepage through the foundation from heavy rain or snow melt Storm or sewage backup Sump pump failures Broken pipes Basement Flood Damage Cleanup Whatever the cause of your flooded basement, Paul Davis Cleveland Metro is here to help. Our highly skilled and expertly trained technicians will assess the cause and extent of the damage and work quickly and efficiently to remove the water, dry the space, and complete any reconstruction needed.