Steps For Draining And Drying A Flooded Building Basement
By Charmaine Pierce
A flooded basement must be drained and cleaned as soon as the surrounding flood water starts receding to prevent the building from any structural damage. If you start draining water away from your basement in haste before waiting for the floodwater to become clear outside, it is almost certain that water will seep back in again. You must act with a calm mind and proceed towards draining the water from the basement in stages, that is to say, about 1/3 of the accumulated water every day until it is completely drained. It is considered structurally safe to drain the water slowly and gradually.
Before you enter a flooded basement, always ensure the power and the main gas valve is turned off in your home to keep yourself on the safe side and prevent any chance of getting electric shock.
Drain your flooded basement carefully to avoid putting any pressure on your basement walls which can leave your structure unsafe. Now to drain the floodwater out of your flooded basement, you can make use of gas-powered pump as it is a better choice than using an electric pump which can put your life at risk. However, you can use an electric pump provided it is connected to an electric line outside your house. Use a wide garden hose to drain out floodwater from your basement. It is better to buy a large diameter drain hose and a high capacity pump to drain more water far away from the foundation of your building to prevent the water from re-entering your basement.
Once you are done with pumping away all the standing water from your flooded basement, you should begin the process of cleanup. Always wear protective gear including rubber boots, gloves and goggles to prevent any accidental contact with the contaminated water and filth. Clean up the remaining debris and wet garbage using a shovel. Flush down all walls and floors and finish the cleanup process using hot water with a detergent solution for cleaning all the walls, floors, cupboards, drawers, dishes and other affected places.
Another important step for making your flooded basement restored back to normalcy includes drying your basement. Cross ventilation should be maximized by opening doors and windows. This helps in reducing the dampness of the place. However, if the air outside is moist, then it is advisable to keep the doors and windows closed and use a dehumidifier instead. You can make use of a dehumidifier that has a drain fitting on the bucket to attach a garden hose for making your basement dry.
If any of your household articles have become extensively damaged, do not hesitate to discard them away. It is best keeping the safety of yourself and your family in view. Moreover, mold and mildew can keep hiding in the damaged items leading to many serious ailments. Try to make the basement completely free from moisture and humidity. To avoid any health hazards, dispose away the debris and other contaminants to an appropriate place away from your house. Before relocating to the basement, always wash and disinfect the place thoroughly. Following the above mentioned steps can go a long way in making the flooded basement dry and safe for living.
About the author
Charmaine Pierce shares info on flooding and fire for Chicago Flood Disaster Recovery and commercial building flooding from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com
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