Coming home to a flooded basement can be a nightmare. Water quickly causes damage, destroys belongings, promotes mold growth, and creates safety hazards if electrical systems get wet. Prompt action is required to start the water removal and drying process before permanent damage sets in. This article provides step-by-step instructions on what to do upon discovering a flooded basement, how to thoroughly dry it out afterward, and critical repair work to restore your basement after water damage.
Assess the Flooding Situation
Your first step is to identify and address any unsafe conditions. If the floodwaters reached any electrical outlets, circuits, or wiring, turn off the power at the main breaker before entering. Ensure the gas lines did not sustain damage. Watch for shifting or collapsing areas in the floors or walls indicating serious structural issues. If you have any concerns about safety, evacuate the home and call emergency services.
Next, stop the water source. Find where the floodwaters entered and stop additional flow. This may require sandbags, redirecting gutters, unclogging drains or sump pumps, or contacting the local authorities if public storm drains overflowed. Until the water ingress point is controlled, removal efforts will be hindered.
Remove Free-Standing Water
Use an electric submersible sump pump, gas-powered pump, or manual sump pump to start removing free-standing water. Position the pump’s discharge hose so water releases far from your home’s foundation, sloping downhill. If electricity is still unsafe to use, gas pumps provide strong pumping capacity to rapidly remove floodwaters. Use an extension cord if your flooded area is far from electrical outlets.
In severe flooding reaching several feet that overwhelms pumps, you may need to rent additional heavy-duty water removal equipment such as trailer-mounted diesel trash pumps from an equipment rental company. Call local water and fire damage restoration companies for assistance if DIY pumping proves inadequate.
Clear Out Damaged Possessions
Sadly, many items flooded in a basement will need disposal. Remove and throw out furniture, boxes, decorations, shelves, padding, toys, supplies, and anything else permeated by floodwaters. These soaked porous contents will fuel mold growth if left in place. However, you can likely salvage more valuable items later once the space fully dries out. For now, clear as much as possible to open up the area.
Clean Surfaces of Silt and Residue
Use hoses, shop vacuums, mops, and buckets to remove silt, mud, and dirt left behind by floodwaters. Clean from higher surfaces down. Pay extra attention around and underneath appliances, mechanical fixtures, pipes, wiring runs, ductwork, and framing where sediment easily hides. Removing muddy residue quickens the drying process. Wipe down walls with disinfecting cleaner.
Assist the Drying Process with Fans, Dehumidifiers and Heat
Open exterior-facing doors and windows to provide maximum airflow. Use large drum fans and blowers to vigorously circulate air, directing it into corners and areas shielded from natural airflow. The basement’s air needs to be completely changed over several times a day.
Dehumidifiers actively condense excessive water vapor from damp air. Continually drain the units so that condensed water does not reintroduce moisture. Position several mid-room and away from walls where humidity especially lingers.
If it’s safe to do so, restore central heating/air conditioning system operation. Run the air handler fan on continuous circulation to filter indoor air through the HVAC unit repeatedly. Route warm dry air into the basement if ductwork extends there. The heat aids evaporation. Depending on the season, portable space heaters may help raise temperatures.
Be patient for natural drying once excess water is gone. With airflow assistance, a previously flooded basement usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to dry, though residual dampness may linger for months requiring ongoing dehumidifier usage. You want wood framing moisture content below 15% before considering repairs or reinstalling drywall, flooring or possessions. Use a moisture meter to check progress.
Identify and Repair Structural Damage
Once drying sufficiently completes, shift your focus to identifying and repairing water-induced building damage. Look for bulging, buckling or cracked foundation walls. Check for soft spongy flooring, peeling paint, powdery drywall, warped wood framing, and any new gaps indicating shifting structure requiring support. While you can hope for the best, assume that the water has loosened adhesives, corroded fasteners, and weakened integrity that requires restoring for stability and functionality.
Most flood damage requires replacing saturated gypsum drywall and scrapping wood framing. Treat exposed masonry block walls with waterproofing paint. Lay new cement board to withstand moisture before re-drywalling. Consider closed-cell spray foam insulation that resists moisture and air infiltration better than fiberglass batting. Replace warped doors and window frames allowing water intrusion. Despite desires to repair items, flood damage often warrants new materials.
For flooring, remove soaked carpets, pads and cheap plywood subflooring which compact moisture and mold food. Replace with mold-inhibiting drycore panels before installing new vinyl plank, ceramic tile or laminate flooring and rugs. Reinstall original hardwood if restoration is viable but assess it carefully for underlying rot. Integrate sump pumps, French drains and grading for improved drainage, preventing repeat disasters.
Installing a flood prevention system can add further protection. Perimeter basement waterproofing seals exterior walls vulnerable to groundwater seepage. Interior drainage systems of trenches, pipes and sump pumps capture and eject subsurface liquid before flooding starts. Overhead sewer backflow valves prevent inbound surges from municipal drains. Such preventative measures provide security if you are located in flood zones.
Recovering a flooded basement requires prompt water removal followed by aggressive drying aided by fans and dehumidifiers. These DIY actions reduce permanent damage from lingering moisture. Unfortunately, most flooded basements need extensive structural repairs and material replacements due to contamination – don’t take shortcuts attempting to salvage framing and finishes after water intrusion.
Consider consulting professionals specializing in storm damage claims to properly inspect your unique situation and ensure repairs restore your basement to pre-flooding condition. With dedication to the drying process and proper restoration work, you can revive a flooded basement into a usable living space. Preventative measures like waterproofing and backflow valves also help avoid repeat disasters.
For help with repair estimates and insurance claims, visit Storm Damage at 200 Lake Morton Drive, Suite 300, Lakeland, FL 33801.
Or call us today for a free consultation on (833) 941-7867.