You spent months fixing up your basement to make it livable, and then the unthinkable happens: water damage. All of a sudden, the beautiful basement you took months to create is under water and all your possessions are damaged. What do you do? If this scenario feels familiar, you need to call a basement water extraction professional as soon as possible to mitigate the damage.
Common Causes of Water Damage in a Basement
Unfortunately, water damage in a basement is not uncommon. However, it does have a few common root causes you should be aware of so you can be proactive in preventing this situation from happening.
These root causes include:
- A broken or damaged sump pump
- Clogged gutter system
- Sewage backup
- Storm damage
- Improperly sealed floors and walls
To prevent water damage in your basement, make sure you routinely clean out your gutters and remove leaves, dirt, and other objects. Also, use a sealant on the floors and walls of your basement to help prevent water damage.
Treating Basement Water Damage
The first thing you should do after suffering water damage is to shut off the electricity to the home. This is to avoid electrocution. Once the power’s off, you’re going to want to get the water out as soon as possible. If water is left untreated, it can cause mold in as little as 24 hours.
You can remove the water by using a bucket to scoop it out of the house. If there isn’t a lot of water, you can use a shop-vac; a shop-vac acts as a pump and can remove a lot of water easily and efficiently.
Once the water is out, you need to dry it up. Lay down towels to soak up the excess water and open up any windows if possible to get cross-breeze ventilation. The best recommendation is to get a dehumidifier to soak up any excess moisture in the air, as this is one of the causes of mold growth.
During this process, it’s important not to forget to call your insurance company so you can file a claim. Take pictures of the damage and keep a record of when the leak occurred and who you called for help and receipts that go along with their services. The more information you have, the better.
Call a Water Damage Restoration Company
Sometimes the water damage may be too much for you to deal with on your own. If that’s the case, you need to call a water damage restoration company as soon as possible. They have the tools and resources to properly extract water from your home, disinfect the area, and mitigate severe damage.
Don’t Let Your Finished Basement Go to Waste – Call the Pros at Green Genie Environmental Today
Having your finished basement flooded is the worst. And chances are you don’t feel comfortable having a bunch of harmful chemicals used in the treatment of it. That’s why Green Genie Environmental only uses eco-friendly methods of extracting water from flooded basements. When you need a basement water extraction company, our trained technicians can help. Call us today at (716) 466-6653 to schedule an appointment.