What to do when you find water in your basement

A flooded basement happens more often than you might think and when it happens, it is usually because of heavy rains which fell in the area or perhaps the close by river which overflowed its banks. Your basement is deemed flooded if the water level rises to over six inches. There are definite precautions which will prevent a basement flooding, as well as ways to clean up the basement water damage.

How to avoid basement flooding?

Make sure all the gutters of your roof are clean from debris. Leaves, sticks and other objects will cause rain water to overflow from the gutters and seep down into your basement. Ideally, the water from the gutters should drain away more than six feet from your house walls. A pop-up drain Moreover, if you make sure that the grade around your house slope away from the house, it will help prevent any dangers of flooding in your basement. Installing PVC pipes underground to drain rain water to your front or backyard, is also an inexpensive way to avoid flooding. They work with what is called a pop-up drain. These drains will pop up and drain the water away from your home. Install a de-humidifier Installing a proper de-humidifier down in your basement will help keep it dry. Install a model with a drain hose. This will drain any water directly into a sink which saves you from having to empty the de-humidifier when it is full. Besides, make sure that the drywall in your basement is properly installed. There should be a one inch gap between the concrete floor and the bottom of the dry wall. Remember to make sure that all the vertical cracks in the walls of the foundation are properly sealed before finishing off your basement. Waterproofing basement walls is essential as well.

What if you already have a flooding problem?

The most important of all is to make sure that all electric wires and devices are clear from any water. You need to suck up the water immediately, by using a wet and dry vacuum. Renting another de-humidifier and letting fans run will also help dry the air in any damp basement, but keep all windows closed. You need to dry the air in your basement and the rest of the house as much as possible.
What if your basement remains flooded? After you have done what you could and the water in your basement is still there, or it does not dry out at all, it is best you call in some professional help. There are companies which specialise in the draining of flooded areas and in the removing of serious mold problems.