How We Handle a Flooded Basement After a flood occurs, your first step should be to hire an expert. As a home owner, your main concern is protecting your family and your property. Similarly, as restoration experts, our main concern is protecting your property and minimizing damage. A flooded basement can quickly cause substantial damage to your home. In many cases, large household equipment such as your furnace, water heater, and water softener may be stored in the basement. If these items become irreparably damaged, the cost of a flooded basement skyrockets. Here is how our experts handle flooded basements quickly and effectively to protect your property. Ensure Safety There may be significant safety issues brewing on your property regardless of the cause of your flooded basement. Flood water can be extremely unhealthy due to toxins including waste, fertilizers, or river water overflow. Our experts are trained and prepared to professionally handle your situation and ensure safety. Our experts follow a specific set of procedures and safety precautions when dealing with your flooded basement. We begin with wearing the appropriate hazard gear and shutting off all electricity. We also test the water and determine what level of contaminants it contains. Safety of your family and property is one of the most important reasons to employ an expert to deal with your flooded basement. Minimize Damage Experts have the right tools to remediate the damage of your flooded basement. While you may be able to remove flood water with a water vacuum, you are wasting valuable time. An expert will use specialized equipment to remove and dispose of water as quickly as possible. The longer flood water stands, the greater risk there is of structural damage and irreversible damage to belongings and furniture. By calling in the experts, you ensure that water is removed as quickly and effectively as possible in order to minimize damage. Restore Your Property After all the water is removed from your flooded basement, we will thoroughly dry the basement to eliminate all moisture. This is an important step to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Afterward, we clean, decontaminate, and sanitize everything to make the area livable again. We understand your desire to return to a normal living situation as soon as possible, and we work to make that happen. Experts Make a Difference Although not everything in life requires an expert, ensuring your home is returned to its pre-flooded state does. We also renovate your property to rebuild any structural areas that may have received heavy flood damage. We keep accurate paperwork, including photos, to support insurance claims and ensure you receive compensation for your damage. While a flooded basement can be devastating, you shouldn’t have to handle water removal and clean up alone. If you are in need of flood repair services, contact Get Restoration Experts today.
Making a Family Disaster Plan A disaster can strike your household at any given time. Many families will have an emergency plan in case of a house fire, but most do not think about what to do in case of a flood or significant water damage from an appliance or another source. All household emergency plans should be kept simple and easy to remember. Everyone in the household should understand what to do, where to go, and what to take in the event of a disaster. Each household member will have a role to play during an emergency. Making a family disaster plan is important to share ideas, responsibilities and learn to work as a team. Discuss the types of disasters that are most likely to happen in your area. Explain what to do in each case whether it’s flood or fire. Here are some of the first pieces of information your family should discuss during disaster planning: Two designated places to meet, one outside your home in case of sudden emergencies like a fire, and one outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return to your home. Know your family contacts. Pick an out-of-town or state friend to call and let know you are safe. Discuss what to do in an evacuation and plan what to do with pets. Assemble a Disaster Kit Have enough water to last you 10 to 30 days. During an emergency, your home may lose access to water. During a flood, you may be surrounded by water, but that water will be unsanitary. You also may not have access to drinking water. Plan to have one gallon per person per day. This includes drinking, food preparation, and sanitation water. At least three days worth of non-perishable food and potable water should be stored for disasters. A basic first-aid kit should also be kept with emergency kits. Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car. Your kit should also include: Medical consent and history forms for each family member A small, waterproof flashlight with extra batteries and matches A pay-as-you-go phone or cell phone solar charger Sunscreen and insect repellant Whistle and a 12-hour light stick/glow stick A thermal blanket/space blanket At Restoration Experts, our goal is to keep you and your family safe during any disaster. In our line of work, we see many fires, floods, and water damage disasters. We hope these tips can help your family make a sturdy plan for escape. Call us anytime with questions or concerns at 1-877-502-8782.
Ten Ways to Protect Your Home from Water Damage Home insurance rates are on the rise, and one of the reasons is the increasing amount of water damage and floods that homes are enduring. There are many ways to protect your home from water damage. Below are ten solutions that cover a variety of sources that cause water damage, whether it is sump pump breakdowns, plumbing, or floods. Check Your Appliances The hoses on your dishwasher, washing machine, and your refrigerator can easily become loose. Inspect them for cracks or leaks and replace them at least every seven years. Consider investing in water leak sensors that alert you when they detect possible problems in the home. Water Heater Maintenance Water heaters should be partially drained every six months. This will prevent erosion and rust from building in the bottom of the tank. Draining the tank will also allow you to check the pipes for cracks and leaks. If possible, have a professional elevate the water tank so that it isn’t sitting directly on the floor. Check Floor Drains and Sump Pumps Keep all floor drains clear of obstructions. If you have a sump-pit and sump pump, inspect them, and ensure the pump works. Check the pump’s discharge pipe for blockages and aim it away from your home. It should be draining towards your lawn or garden. Installing a battery-driven backup for the sump pump is an investment for being flood prepared. Check Humidity in Your Home If you notice condensation on windows, wet stains on the walls, or musty smells the humidity level in your home may be too high. To help prevent dampness and mildew, always use exhaust fans following hot showers. When you’re leaving the house for more than three days, turn the temperature on the air conditioning up, not off. Properly Seal Cracks Rain and wind only need a small opening to cause a lot of damage. Give them an inch under a shingle or a window, and they will take the entire home. If you notice any air flowing through window or door deals, any cracks in the floors, or lose shingles, buy sealant as soon as possible. Also, check the bathroom walls and tiling for cracked or missing caulk and grout. Water can sneak behind the tiles and leak down into the floors or create mold behind the walls. Get Organized If water damage or a flood were to happen inside your home, you want to avoid losing valuable items. Consider installing shelves in the basement to keep items off the floor. Sturdy plastic containers are best for storage of smaller items. You need to protect unused furnishings or appliances with sealed plastic bags. Since water damage in the basement rises to an inch or more, keep all electrical wiring one inch above the floor. This action helps prevent electrical accidents and expensive repairs. It is also smart to label the shut-off valves for the water supply lines. As a result, it helps if you should find any leaks in pipes or if one happens to burst. Reconsider Flooring Carpet may seem like a better choice in some rooms, especially a basement for a family-friendly environment. However, with water damage and floods being prominent in basement areas, it may be time to reconsider your options. Using large area rugs, accents, or carpeting remnants can be just as nice, plus can save a lot of grief should damage occur. Keep the Drains Clear An obvious way to clog a pipe is to pour fats, oil, and grease down your drains. Most people don’t realize the issues that arise from this action. These elements solidify in your drains and cause build-up that leads to water damage. Investigate the Outside of the Home Over the years, sidewalks, driveways, patios, and decks may shift and cause water to pool. Repair any damages you can to get water away from your home. Ensure the proper grading of your lot so that water can drain away from your foundation. Landscaping your yard with plants and vegetation will also help minimize soil erosion. Give the Gutters a Look Regularly cleaning and maintaining your gutters will help keep blockages away. Even if gutters are free of debris, there are still chances of leaks and overflow with heavy rains and snows. Use a rain barrel to help catch runoff and make sure the downspouts extend three to six feet away from your home. Water damage to your home is never a good thing. However, you can prevent some damage. Nearly 40 percent of homeowners have experienced water damage in their home at some point. These tips will help prevent problems, but if unexpected water damage or a flood occurs in your home, call DeShano Restoration immediately at 1-800-234-0800.