Water can be devastating for your home. Outside the bathroom and sink, it can cause a headache or two. Of course, you can do everything you can and take every precaution possible, but sometimes, water just finds a way in.
There’s no scenario where it’s not a problem, no matter how mild. Whether it’s a leak in your faucet, your bedroom, or even from one of your machines at home, it can only spell trouble.
One of the most frustrating places water can get into is your basement. It doesn’t matter if you use your basement for storage, as a spare room, or for recreational use. Once water gets in there, you must fix the problem as soon as possible.
There’s no doubt that there will already be some form of damage. Your reaction time will determine how bad things will be. Here is an essential guide on how to deal with water damage in your basement:
Signs of Water Damage
Before you can go about fixing the problem, you have to know what to look out for. Knowing the signs of water damage in your basement can help you improve things before it gets out of hand. If there are a few inches of water on the floor, you already know something’s wrong. Try to look for these signs early on to avoid having to go through that.
Common signs of basement water damage:
- Single or networked cracks in walls and floors
- Flakes of cement spalling from surfaces
- Efflorescence deposits accumulating on walls
- Crumbled or rotted wood, drywall, and plaster
- Yellow or brown-tinted discoloration on various surfaces
- Water coming into the basement where walls meet floors
- Pervasive, unpleasant smells, especially around drains
- Mold growth and stains on porous materials and furnishings
- Hairline cracks in dark corners or efflorescence behind appliances
What to Do When You Find Water Damage in Your Basement?
Assess and Ventilate
When you suspect or have already found the signs of water damage in your basement, the first thing you need to do is turn off all electricity there. This is to ensure your safety while you investigate the damage. Whether you’ve found the cause or not, start ventilating your basement.
This should help with the smell, if there are any, and kickstart the drying process. You want the basement as dry as possible while you’re checking down there. Make sure to document the damage that you find as well. This will help you fill out a repair request much more accurately.
Dry it Out
Next, you want to focus on getting the whole basement dry. Depending on how far along the water damage was, the process shouldn’t take too long. Place air movers and heavy-duty dehumidifiers in the basement to dry out your wet basement. Of course, if you don’t have any of these tools, you can just air it out, but it will just take longer. It’s not advisable to bring in a fan if the water damage is severe as the electricity poses a danger.
Clean and Disinfect
It depends on the severity of the water damage how much you can do on your own. While you wait for word from professionals to repair your basement, you can get started on few tasks on your own. Clean and disinfect your basement as well as you can. You can use baking soda and white vinegar to get rid of any foul odors. Use strong detergents mixed with water for non-porous surfaces.
You should also tear out and dispose of any materials that have been ruined beyond repair. This should cut down repair time. It will also make things easier for the professionals once they start fixing your basement.
Conclusion
Basement water damage can be a huge problem, but you can catch it early on before it gets too bad if you know the signs. There are plenty of things you can do on your own to fix the problem before needing the help of a professional. The most important thing to remember is to dry it out as soon as possible while keeping your safety in mind.
If you need damage restoration services, we’re right here to help you. Redline Restoration is a Florida-based company that provides full-service and around-the-clock fire, water, and mold damage restoration services. We cater to both residential and commercial properties. Contact us today and let us know how we can help you!
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