An unusually heavy rain tests how well your basement is waterproofed. While you may not have trouble with a wet basement during a typical storm, a long rainy spell or heavy rain could turn your basement into an indoor pool. However, it doesn't even take that much water to cause a lot of damage to your basement. Here are some things you may want to do whether your basement is flooded or just wet and damp after heavy rain.

Pump Out The Water

The first thing you want to do is ensure safe working conditions. That means turning off the electricity to the basement. Since water may not drain out of your basement, you may need to pump it out with a submersible pump. You'll probably need help from a water damage professional at some point, so call them in early so they get the water out of your basement fast using their pumps and water extractors.

Throw Out Contaminated Belongings

The unfortunate thing about water that comes in from the outside is that it is contaminated with chemicals and microbes, so you have to give careful thought to what you can save and restore. Hard surfaces can be wiped down and sanitized, but things like boxes of clothing, books, and a cloth sofa may need to be thrown out.

Sanitize The Basement

A water damage restoration company can handle the disinfecting of your basement, furniture, and other hard surfaces so you don't have to risk your health. They'll use proper cleaning equipment and protective gear so the area is made safe for restoration work to continue.

Have Walls And Flooring Restored

If your basement is finished, you'll be facing a lot more restoration work than if your basement has a concrete floor and walls. If the basement has flooring and walls with insulation, these may need to be removed and replaced with new materials. Removing wet materials also speeds up the drying out process and reduces the risk of mold.

Have Equipment Serviced

If your furnace and hot water heater are in the basement, you may need to have them checked and serviced if they were in the water. A professional can make sure they are safe to operate and that they won't have long-term damage from the water exposure.

Consider Basement Waterproofing

Once your basement floods, you know there's the potential for it to happen again. You may want to discuss waterproofing options with a contractor. You may find the problem was due to poor drainage or bad gutters and the situation is easy to fix. However, you might want to have a sump pump put in so if water gets in your basement again, the pump will get rid of it before you have water damage to repair again.

For more information, contact a water damage service.

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