Water damage in your basement can be caused by a number of reasons. A heavy rain, a broken sump pump, a leaky foundation or an appliance malfunction can all be reasons why your basement floods. If you’re in need of water damage restoration for your the basement of your home, you’ve got a lot of different concerns that need to be addressed. The first concern is going to be whether the damage is fresh and if the source of the damage has been stopped.
For example, if your basement has water damage from a sewer backup that has been remediated, then you can move forward with cleanup and restoration. If, however, your basement was damaged by something like a flood that’s still ongoing, you’ll need to wait until the water stops and recedes or can be cleaned up properly. Then, you’ll be able to consider restoration.
So, step one—stop the source of the water damage.
Then, assess the situation. If you can, carefully remove any personal belongings or furnishings so that they don’t sustain further damage. If the area is so damaged that it’s unsafe to enter, just wait for the professionals. Don’t touch anything electrical if there is standing water or if the electrical outlets are wet or have been damaged. You could risk serious electric shock.
DIY Cleanup: Yay or Nay?
A lot of people wonder whether they should try to remedy the situation themselves. Some just think it’ll be a matter of throwing out the damaged items and cleaning up with some bleach, and then putting things back. If the water damage is minor, that’s probably fine. If, for example, you have a finished basement with extensive water damage, you’re going to want to call the professionals to help ensure that the damaged items are removed or repaired properly.
Even if you opt to do the cleanup yourself in the end, you’re always better to start by calling water damage restoration experts to provide you with an assessment of the situation and approve that this is, in fact, a good course of action. Some professionals may even offer to advise on what you can do and what you should leave to them, helping you get the best of both worlds—the right cleanup at the right price because you’re taking care of some of it yourself. If your not sure what questions to ask your water damage cleanup company, search for Clarke Contractors Inc. in Cincinnati Ohio for advice.
Sooner is Better
If you have water damage in your basement, whether it’s new or old, or even if the event causing it is still going on, you need to address the issue as soon as you possibly can to prevent any further damage. Usually, water damage in the basement can be remediated without a lot of difficulty. Unfinished basements, of course, are easier to clean and restore, but any basement deserves the best treatment right away.
Basements are notorious for water damage. Make sure that you’re able to identify the source of the damage and check with your home insurance provider to see if that type of damage is covered. If it is, the deductible might be cheaper than the cost of repairing the water damage out of pocket. Whatever you do, don’t put this off until you have “more time” because that gives things more time to get worse and that can quickly go from being a hassle to a health hazard.
