What to Do When Your Basement Floods

If your basement floods, you definitely won’t want to swim in it like they do in the movies. While an indoor pool may seem fun, water damage and flooding are anything but. If there’s water where it’s not supposed to be in your Pennsylvania home, you need to tread carefully. Flooding is dangerous, and water damage can be cancerous to a home’s foundation. Luckily, the water damage and restoration professionals at Scavello Restoration are here to tell you what to do if your basement floods.

If your home’s pipes burst, your appliances malfunction, or your toilets overflow, and you find your basement flooded and brimming with water, don’t panic. Simply follow our advice and your home will be back to its dry, comfortable state in no time.

What you can do if your basement floods

Stay calm: First of all, remember to stay calm and let cooler heads prevail. In the heat of the moment, a flooding basement spells DANGER, and this can cause panic. Keep your cool and stay safe.

Consider health and safety: Entering a wet basement can be dangerous. When a basement floods, things shift around, and you might not know what’s under the water. You’re at risk for injury, infection, and shock, so it’s best to stay out of the water. Though you may want to spring into action to help your home, it’s important to first consider your and your family’s health and safety.

Call a professional If your basement is flooding, it’s vital you call a professional ASAP, especially before your house incurs any structural damages. A water damage and restoration professional specializing in flooding and water extraction will arrive promptly to extract the water, tear out the carpet or flooring, dry and dehumidify the affected area, and remove any damaged drywall or mold. Call the Greater Philadelphia Area’s go-to water damage and restoration professionals at Scavello Restoration for quick, reliable water extraction.

Find the shut off valve: If you are able to safely do so, shut off the main water supply (the incoming water valve) for your home, as this could help minimize the damage. Always wear proper footwear, such as rubber insulated boots, before entering the flooded area to find the shut-off valve.

Mitigate the damages: Until you have a professional assess the leak, do not flush the toilet, run a washing machine, run the dishwasher, or use any other appliance with a drain. This could worsen the leak and add to the flood.

Document the damages: If your basement floods, it’s important to take comprehensive photos and videos of the damages to your home. You should also make a list of items that have been damaged by the water or that need to be replaced.

Eliminate excess water: If you can safely enter the affected area, you should use towels and old rags to soak up the excess water. If you have a wet/dry vacuum on-hand, use it to vacuum up some of the excess water in your flooded basement.

What you’ll do together if your basement floods

Salvage your belongings: When it’s safe to enter your basement, remove as much as you can out of the flood zone to salvage your belongings. The quicker your belongings are removed, the more likely mildew, molds, rot, and warping can be avoided. Luckily, the water damage and restoration professionals at Scavello Restoration can help you to salvage your belongings after a flood. They’ll help with the heavy lifting, and their protective gear will ensure no one falls ill from dangerous potential toxins that can be present in flood water.

Make a list: Create an itemized list of what you are removing. Organize your items by what can be salvaged and what needs to be discarded. Your water restoration professional or your insurer may help you or be involved with this process.

What your water removal professional will do if your basement floods

Remove rugs: When your basement floods, you must remove or roll rugs back from the wet area. But we’ll handle that. Your water damage and restoration professional will have to remove and likely discard any form of flooring that could have absorbed fluids, including carpet, wood flooring, under layers, and so on. This helps to prevent mold.

Dry and disinfect: After flooring removal, your water damage and restoration professional will completely dry and disinfect the foundational features of your basement to prevent mold and mildew, such as the foundation floor, the walls, the trim, the furnace, and any other fixed objects.

Clean: Clean your salvaged items thoroughly before putting them back in your house. Note that any salvageable carpets and furniture may need to be professionally cleaned and dried. Get the opinion from your water damage and restoration experts at Scavello Restoration.

Haul it away: After you have documented what needs to be discarded, your restoration professionals will haul away your damaged items. Smaller items can go in the regular garbage, while larger items will be taken to the dump.

If your basement, home, or office floods, safety should be your primary concern. Remember to stay calm and contact a professional. The certified water damage professionals at Scavello Restoration are here 24/7 to help Pennsylvania residents of the Greater Philadelphia area restore their basements, commercial properties, and homes after a flood.