If you have a flooded basement, the first thing you have on your mind is how to immediately remove the water. You are not aware of the possible effect of removing the water fast can have because all that is in your mind is to dry out your flooded basement. Removal of the standing water should be done following the correct procedures.
Pumping out the water can cause more damage if not done correctly. Removing the water all at once can cause structural damage to your house. It could cause your walls, floors and foundation to collapse. The reason behind this is that the water that is still in the ground outside your home may still be pushing hard to the outside walls of your basement. On the other hand, water inside the basement is pushing back. If you remove the inside water, the outside pressure will be greater which can lead to damage to your foundation, walls and crack your floor. The correct procedure is to drain the water and slowly to equalize the pressure on both sides of the walls.
The cleanup of a flooded basement should be done by professionals. They are more knowledgeable of the correct procedure. They have all the necessary tools and knowledge to get the job done without risking your property. However, if you plan to do it yourself and you have the necessary tools, following these useful tips can help reduce the possibility of inflicting more serious damage to your home:
1. Pumping should begin when floodwater is no longer covering the ground outside the house.
2. Pump the water away from your house; do not put the hose right into the door or window. The pumped water can easily find its way back into the house and add pressure to your outside walls.
3. For starters, pump out about one foot of water. Mark the water level and wait for the next 24 hours. This will serve as your reference for the next step.
4. Confirm the water level the following day. If the water level went up and covered your mark, it is not time to fully drain the water. It only shows that there is still the presence of water outside your flooded basement.
5. Wait for another 24 hours and then pump out one foot of water again. Again, mark the water level to serve as your reference for the next day.
6. When the water in your flooded basement stops returning to your mark, pump out 2-3 feet of water. Again, you cannot remove the water all at once, the chances that water is still holding to the outside wall of your house is still there. Slowly removing the water inside your basement will keep an equal pressure on both sides of the walls.
7. Repeat the procedure daily until all the water is taken out.
Once the basement is dried and cleaned, be sure to apply a disinfectant to kill the bacteria and viruses that were brought inside your basement. Bringing back the normal humidity of the basement is important to avoid the possible growth of molds.
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