So here are the 6 steps you need to take to dry out a flooded basement after a major storm:
1. First, call your insurance agent! Then take pictures of the damage – as many as you can.
2. Next, get the water out.
Don’t wait! Use a sump pump or trash pump to remove the standing water.
3. Now, use a wet/dry or shop vac to extract as much of the remaining water as possible.
4. After that, you must remove everything that got wet!
This includes soft furniture, carpet, pad, and drywall – up to 4 feet if necessary.
If there is insulation, throw that out too. Insulation acts like a sponge and holds water for a very long time.
5. Then, spray everything with an anti-microbial solution. DON’T USE BLEACH!
Go to your local hardware store and buy an anti-microbial disinfecting solution. The one you want states clearly on the label that it does not contain bleach or ammonia.
Many of them will have safety data sheets listing them as non-toxic to both humans and animals.
6. After you’ve extracted the water and sprayed antimicrobial, get a dehumidifier and as many fans as you can to circulate the air.
A dehumidifier by itself will only do part of the job.
Without air flow, sections of your flooded basement will remain wet – and grow health threatening mold and fungus.
Be patient! This process can take several days.
And remember: professional remediation for flood water damage is always recommended because moisture mapping and monitoring are part of the service, along with photo-cataloging the damage and discarded items to help you with your insurance claim.
The professional water damage restoration experts at PuroClean Emergency Recovery Services have the equipment, technology, meters to measure the moisture, and the knowledge to dry your flooded basement or crawlspace efficiently – before mold and bacteria start to grow!
For emergency help to dry out a flooded basement call 877-750-7876
Need help to dry out a flooded basement? We’re listing the zip codes in the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey region that we service:
08525 08515 08022 08511 08518 08640 08036 08041 08048 08052 08053 08055 08057 08060 08054 08065 08068 08075 08077 08554 08641 08088 08046 08562 08004 08106 08534 08540 08542 08550 08560 08648 08690 08691 08608 08609 08610 08611 08618 08619 08620 08628 08629 08638 08010 08505 08015 08016 08019 08007 08031 08009 08012 08102 08103 08104 08105 08034 08002 08003 08021 08108 08026 08029 08030 08035 08033 08045 08049 08109 08059 08107 08110 08078 08081 08083 08084 08043 08089 08091 08014 08020 08312 08322 08027 08028 08032 08328 08051 08056 08061 08062 08063 08344 08066 08071 08080 08085 08086 08090 08093 08094 08096 08097 08318 08343 08067 08069 08070 08079 08098 08302 08311 08314 08323 08324 08327 08332 08345 08348 08349 08360 08361 08201 08205 08401 08203 08310 08317 08215 08234 08319 08037 08326 08221 08403 08402 08330 08340 08341 08346 08225 08232 08241 08350 08244 08406 08005 08721 08008 08722 08731 08527 08733 08701 08734 08735 08050 08759 08738 08533 08741 08742 08751 08752 08753 08755 08757 08087 08758 08092
18077 18901 18902 18913 18914 18917 18920 18923 18925 18927 18929 18930 18932 18933 18934 18938 18940 18942 18944 18947 18951 18954 18955 18960 18966 18972 18974 18976 18977 19007 19020 19021 19030 19047 19053 19054 19055 19056 19057 19067 19008 19010 19013 19014 19015 19018 19022 19023 19026 19029 19032 19033 19036 19043 19050 19061 19063 19064 19070 19073 19074 19076 19078 19079 19081 19082 19083 19085 19086 19087 19094 19113 19317 19319 19342 19373 18041 18054 18070 18073 18074 18076 18915 18936 18964 18969 19001 19002 19003 19004 19006 19012 19025 19027 19031 19034 19035 19038 19040 19041 19044 19046 19066 19072 19075 19090 19095 19096 19401 19403 19405 19406 19422 19426 19428 19435 19436 19438 19440 19444 19446 19453 19454 19462 19464 19468 19473 19477 19492 19525 19102 19103 19104 19106 19107 19109 19110 19111 19112 19114 19115 19116 19118 19119 19120 19121 19122 19123 19124 19125 19126 19127 19128 19129 19130 19131 19132 19133 19134 19135 19136 19137 19138 19139 19140 19141 19142 19143 19144 19145 19146 19147 19148 19149 19150 19151 19152 19153 19154 19176
If you don’t see your area listed and you need help, give us a call! We’ll be happy to refer you to someone in your area who can help. And, if you don’t know the steps to pick a reliable contractor for flood damage restoration, we’ve posted some guidelines here: The Do’s and Don’ts During Storm Damage Cleanup