Water Removal Service for a Flooded Basement: Preliminary Steps
One of the most devastating disasters that can occur to a home is flooding. Aside from the physical danger that raging waters can pose to trapped individuals in a flood, the resulting cleanup work could be very tiring, tedious and downright messy.
One of the most difficult areas that can get flooded in a home is the basement. Due to its strategic location in the house, typically below ground level, floodwaters would fill basements more easily than any other part of the house. In any case, water removal service should be performed immediately to avoid any complications that floodwaters could bring.
One of the most important aspects to consider when handling floodwaters is related to health. Aside from appearing unsanitary, the dark, murky and often foul-smelling waters of floods contain a variety of bacteria and microorganisms that can be harmful to the occupants of a home. If not removed and treated properly, these waters can cause certain diseases that can even put lives in danger in the extreme. Another consideration after an occurrence of floods is the possibility of mold and mildew infestations to the home’s structure and the materials in it. These items should be carefully considered when removing water from a flooded home and basement.
Water removal service for flooded basements is not as simple as quickly pumping out water from the area then waiting for it to dry on its own. The following are things to consider as preliminary steps when performing water removal service for a flooded basement.
*Structural Integrity
Checking the structural integrity of a flooded home is the first thing that should be done before entering the home to perform water removal service. Check first the outside of the house and nearby surroundings. Things to watch out for are downed power lines or gas leaks. Do not enter the house if you see some of this anomalies then report the situation immediately to authorities. If you think the structure is not good and is about to give in, you must forego entering the home and call professionals and experts to check the structure’s integrity.
Some basements are dug out from the ground when built. Others are built on a lower tier from the rest of the house but are still created with external walls that are below ground or road level. Before starting any water removal service activity for basements, ensure that the floodwaters have receded and no more water is pushing against the basement walls. Floods can exert tremendous pressure to the basement structure, pushing it inwards. On the other hand, floodwaters already inside the basement act as a ballast to counteract the pressure. If the flood is pumped out immediately when flooding outside has not yet fully receded, the walls could buckle in resulting to more structural damage.
*Electricity
Water and electricity do not combine well and could prove fatal to someone who gets electrocuted. It would be important to turn off electrical power from the basement before performing any restoration work. However, do not attempt to turn off the power through the electrical service panel when there is still standing water in the area. Turn power off from circuit breakers or fuse boxes by using a wooden stick or handle to switch off each individual breaker or the fuse box lever. For fuse boxes, it would be necessary to remove the fuses until water removal service has been completed.
*Fuel Lines
Another important thing to check before performing water removal service is to turn off all gas and fuel lines. Pipelines could have broken off during the flood and could cause leaks into the basement. Locate the inlet valves and turn them off. Most valves have a knob which you can rotate to close, while some have some sort of handle which you can swing to the “off” location. Some valves may be tight enough that you’ll need the use of a pipe wrench or pliers.
Basic steps should first be considered before performing any water damage restoration work for a flooded basement. These procedures could ensure the safety of individuals and prevent further risk and damage to the owners and inhabitants of a home.
