Restoring a house after it has been flooded well requires the help of a restoration company. But, you can have the initiative to start at your flooded basement. If it was unfinished, it could be clogged and damaged, causing the flood water to go directly to your house. When this dire need occurs, follow the tips provided by this infographic.
1. Always have equipment in your house. A vacuum will help in pushing the water out of the house. However, if the water isn’t much, mopping it would be a better option. Equipment that you need can be any of the following: sump pump or wet vacuum.
2. To remove the water from the house, you can use the equipment mentioned above. Then locate which area you should start. You can choose the highest level of the house or areas that will be most affected if the water remains there for a longer period.
3. After removing the water, the next step is to dry the area. There are two options that you can take. One is to open the windows to naturally dry it up but if you want a faster and better way, you can use a dehumidifier. However, using it requires you to close the doors and windows. Using the dehumidifier is simple, you just need to keep an eye on the equipment’s holding container until it extracts no moisture from the surroundings. Do it again, until the area gets dried up.
4. When the basement is already dried and no more water getting in or the rain has completely stopped, your next job is to inspect if there was any structural damage that occurred due to the flood. A flood-related inspection should start on checking the electrical wirings, bacteria that stick in between the walls, mold, and mildew. A thorough inspection would allow you to eliminate the risk of further damage.
5. Throw away your items that have been damaged by the flood. By using a portable extraction unit, you can clean the mess that the pump won’t work.
6. Another item that must be thrown away is the carpet padding. Not because the surface of the carpet is already dry, the padding will be the same. If you won’t remove the padding, it will damage the carpet from the underneath. However, if you see that the carpet has been damaged enough, just throw it away along with the padding.
7. Most of all, you need to disinfect your basement because some bacteria may have been left in there. What you need is simply a pine oil and a Clorox bleach. Spray it all on hard surfaces but don’t include the carpet because it will require a professional cleaner to clean it.
8. Upon inspection, assess whether you will still need a professional clean up company to refine your cleaning output. If the damage is at the level that you can’t handle, it’s time to handle it properly. It could be more expensive than doing it yourself but at least you are sure of the result.
source: https://www.disastercompany.com/tips-clean-flooded-basement/
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