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Is a Flooded Basement Bad?

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

Home disasters always seem to happen when we least expect them. After all, who really has time or expects to deal with a disaster situation during your day-to-day life?

Unfortunately, home disasters are a common issue that all homeowners face at some point during their homeownership. Storms, fires, and water disasters can happen in the blink of an eye, leaving you with a serious mess and a lot of questions.

This is especially true when it comes to basement floods. If you come home after a long day of work to a water disaster, or a storm leaves standing water in your lowest level, you will most likely experience feelings of shock as well as feelings of uncertainty.

Is a flooded basement bad, and how do you even go about recovering from a disaster of this size? Read on to learn more about the dangers of flooded basements and how to overcome your own situation below.

Common Causes of Flooded Basements

Basement floods are often different than other household water leaks due to their scale. Minor bathroom pipe leaks or an overflowing washing machine may be frustrating, but those problems can typically be cleaned up rather quickly with rags or paper towels.

Flooded basements are usually much more impactful because the water covers a larger area and can ruin possessions and building materials. Knowing how flooded basements happen can help you understand how to avoid them.

Heavy Rainfall and Poor Drainage

Rain can be a really big problem for your home if you deal with poor drainage or have trouble moving water away from your home. If you have a gutter system, it should be cleaned and inspected regularly to ensure water flows through the system and out of the downspouts during every rainstorm.

If your gutters are clogged or your downspouts are pointed towards your home, any rain that you receive will pour over the side of your roof and will flow directly onto the soil around your foundation. Over time, this excess moisture will overwhelm the ground, and it can seep into any cracks or issues in your foundation blocks.

Grading issues are also a problem if your yard doesn’t slope away from your home. As rain falls, it will flow backwards towards your home instead of down and away into a drainage area. This can result in a wet basement during every storm.

Failed Sump Pump

If your home has a sump pump, be sure to have it inspected every year. A sump pump’s job is to move groundwater away from your home by pumping it back to the surface. If there is a failure somewhere in this system, the sump pump tank will fill up and overflow.

Plumbing Issues

Of course, plumbing problems can also cause serious damage in a short amount of time. Broken or leaking pipes will pump out water continually until the problem is addressed, and this can be especially troublesome if the pipe is behind drywall or under floorboards. This water will certainly impact your basement, and it will even cause significant water damage in areas that are hard to reach.

Immediate Risks of a Flooded Basement

Floodwater starts causing problems as soon as it makes its way into your home. To start, electrical concerns become a major hazard. If the water infiltrates electrical sockets or your electrical fuseboard, it can charge the water around the area.

Coming into contact with this water can be dangerous or even deadly. Shut off the electricity to your basement as soon as you discover the problem to help ensure your safety.

This water can also damage your belongings almost immediately. It will soak into soft furniture and carpet, and it can ruin fragile keepsakes or anything that is not water-resistant. In addition, it will start to soak into your drywall and floorboards. Over time, this can cause structural issues that can make your basement unstable or dangerous to be in.

Long-Term Risks of a Flooded Basement

In addition to the immediate issues that a flooded basement causes, there are long-term consequences of water disasters. First, mold and mildew become a major concern. Mold loves to grow in damp areas of your home, and your wet basement will quickly become a breeding ground for mold infestations.

Water can linger behind walls or under floorboards even after the initial cleanup happens, and that can lead to mold growing in hard-to-reach areas. Over time, mold can lead to rot, putting your structural supports in jeopardy.

Once your property suffers from a flood, it can also suffer from a decreased property value if it is not professionally restored. Water spots, discoloration, and warped floorboards or walls can impact your resale value. It can also be harder to sell a home that has suffered from a flood, as potential buyers may be spooked by its watery history.

How To Dry a Flooded Basement

The most reliable way to overcome a flooded basement is to call in reinforcements. Hiring a professional flood restoration team is essential to ensuring all of the water is removed and the damage is reversed.

They have the right safety gear and training to steer clear of electrical hazards as well as any hazards within the water itself. They also have access to industry-leading drying equipment. Cleaning up a flooded basement with a simple wet/dry vacuum on your own is, unfortunately, not enough.

Water can quickly seep into your walls and floors, and as discussed above, lingering moisture is never a good thing. Professional air movers and industrial vacuums ensure every drop of moisture is removed from your home.

After the water is gone, your space can be expertly dried, and your possessions can be restored. Professional water restoration teams focus on recovering your belongings instead of replacing them, so careful consideration is taken to ensure as much of your property returns to you as possible.

Finally, your basement undergoes minor construction if the walls or floors were damaged beyond repair. New beams can be installed, new drywall can be hung, and even new carpet can be laid! Trust in the power of a professional restoration team to help you overcome your flooded basement this season.

Suffered a basement flood? Exit Mold is here to help. Call us today at (516) 512-7877 to schedule your quick and reliable flood damage restoration.

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