Never turn on any electrical appliances that may have been damaged by the flooding because you might get shocked or cause an electrical fire. Use battery-powered flashlights or flood lights to help you see what you’re doing while you dry out your basement.
Use a tape measure or another measuring tool to measure the height of the flood waters inside and outside if you aren’t sure which level is higher. If you pump out the water in your basement too fast before the water level outside your home lowers, the weight of the water outside pressing against your basement’s walls can damage them.
Mops and buckets also work to remove small amounts of flood water.
If there is just a few inches of water in your basement, a wet vac is probably sufficient to pump it out. Sump pumps are much more heavy duty than wet vacs and best suited for pumping out more than several inches of standing water. Use a wet vac after using a sump pump to suck up the last few inches of water. Buy or rent a wet vac or sump pump from a home improvement center or a power tool supply company. Use a generator to power your wet vac or sump pump or use a battery-powered or gas-powered variety since the power to your basement is off.
If any of your items are still wet after 48 hours, throw them out and replace them to avoid mold and mildew accumulation. If you have any important documents that got soaked, try putting them in your freezer right away to stop mold and mildew growth until you can deal with them and dry them out properly.
If there are any closets or cabinets in your basement, open the doors to those as well to ventilate them and help dry them out.
Rent or buy fans from a home improvement center or tool supply store if you don’t have any available. An air mover also works to help dry out your basement after a flood.
It’s crucial to try and dry your basement out within 48 hours because mold and mildew start to form after 48 hours if there is still excessive moisture in the walls and floors.
Don’t use your air conditioning if your home’s HVAC system was flooded with water. There is a risk of spreading mold spores throughout your home if the air ducts are contaminated. You might be tempted to turn the heat on to help dry out your basement, but warm air actually holds more humidity than cold air. Stick to using the air conditioning only until your basement is finished drying.
Buy goggles and an N95 respirator at a hardware store for the best protection for your eyes, nose, and lungs.
It’s OK to dispose of mud by just dumping it outside. However, if there is any garbage or other non-natural debris mixed in, dispose of it in the trash.
If you want to reinstall the carpet, dry it out completely before you do so by laying it out in a well-ventilated area and using fans or a dehumidifier to help dry it out. Dispose of any old padding and lay down new padding before you put the carpet back in. Carpet cleaning companies and flood remediation companies often provide carpet drying and flood restoration services if you want to have your carpet professionally dried before reinstallation.
If you want to reinstall the carpet, dry it out completely before you do so by laying it out in a well-ventilated area and using fans or a dehumidifier to help dry it out. Dispose of any old padding and lay down new padding before you put the carpet back in. Carpet cleaning companies and flood remediation companies often provide carpet drying and flood restoration services if you want to have your carpet professionally dried before reinstallation.
This cleans off any dirt, inhibits the growth of mold and mildew, and deodorizes your basement’s flooring.
Use a plunger or plumber’s snake to clear out any really clogged drains.
Buy or rent a pressure washer from a home improvement center or hardware store if you don’t have a high-pressure hose. A regular hose with a high-pressure nozzle attachment may also work.
This finishes cleaning off any stubborn stains, prevents the growth of mold and mildew, and deodorizes the surfaces.
Hire a professional drywall and contractor to help you with this if you don’t have the experience or tools to do it yourself.
Make sure you still have gloves on for this, especially if the insulation is fiberglass. If you hire a drywall contractor to repair damaged drywall, have them repair the insulation as well.
