How To Handle Water Damage In Your Basement

Posted on: 3 April 2023

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Water damage in your basement is one of the worst kinds of damage your home can experience. Water damage can cause mold and mildew to grow in various areas of your basement very quickly. It can also cause mold and mildew to grow on your belongings as well.

That is a lot of damage, and it can get expensive very fast. If you are experiencing water damage in your basement, find out what you need to do to take control of the situation.

Take Pictures

Once your basement has flooded, you will need to take pictures of the damage. You can use these pictures when you are filing your insurance claim. It's also a good idea to take a video of the area as well. The pictures that you take and the video will go a long way in helping to ensure that you get proper compensation.

Find the Leak

A flooded basement means that there is a leak somewhere that you need to find and stop immediately. Leaks can be caused by several things. It could be a broken toilet that is backed up, or it could be your water heater.

It may also be due to something that has gone wrong with the plumbing fixtures in your basement. Whatever the case, you need to find the leak as soon as possible and stop it. If you cannot find the leak, the best thing you can do is to call in a professional water damage restoration company, as they are skilled at identifying these leaks and stopping them.

Get Rid of Water

The next step in the process is to get rid of as much water as possible. If the water is not too high, you can do it yourself. However, if the water is several inches high, you will need to get a professional to assist you with drying out the basement quickly.

The longer you wait, the more damage that will be done. Unfortunately, depending on what was in the basement, you may need to throw out things such as bedding, pillows, upholstered furniture, or clothing. 

These items tend to attract mold very quickly and you need to remove them from the environment, especially if they are wet. The quicker they dry out, the more chance you have of salvaging them.

Getting water damage restoration as soon as possible is critical for preventing long-term damage. The bottom line is that you need to get the water out of your basement as fast as possible, so don't hesitate to call a professional to assist you.

For more information, reach out to a local company, like American Restoration LLC.