Following the heavy rain and flash flooding many areas experienced throughout Maine last month, several homeowners returned home to flooded basements. Two of the most common causes for a basement to flood during a heavy rainstorm are that the homes aren’t properly graded, or a sump pump isn’t properly functioning. The problem now of course is what to do with all that water.
If your basement is flooded you may be tempted to go assess the situation but remember – safety first. Do NOT go in the basement if you have power in your home because energized outlets and wiring below the water pose an electrocution hazard. Before you enter a flooded basement make sure your energy provider has turned off the power to your house. Remove what belongings you can to allow them to begin the drying process.
While many homeowners may be tempted to try to handle removing the water and drying the basement themselves, that is actually a big mistake. Hiring professionals like Octagon Cleaning & Restoration who specialize in water damage restoration is the only way to ensure that your basement is dried properly so that no moisture remains. Lingering moisture can lead to even bigger and more expensive issues, such as mold. If you have a significant amount of flooding there could also be damage to basement walls and the floor. You may not realize it, but a cleaning professional will.
Water leaks in a home typically falls into three categories:
- Clean water, such as water from a leaky pipe.
- Gray water, like from washing machines and other appliances.
- Black water, which is water containing sewage and other contaminants.
Flood water is considered black water, which is categorized as a biohazard. This is another reason why flood water is really best handled by a trained professional. When you hire a professional cleaning company, you can rest assured that they know how to best mitigate flood water and any resulting damage to your home. When they show up you can expect:
- Water extraction and removal to get all of the water out of your home as quickly as possible.
- High-powered drying with professional-grade fans will be used to begin the drying out process.
- Professional-grade dehumidifiers will be brought in to remove any remaining excess moisture from the air.
- Inspection of the space to see if there is any resulting damage, such as drywall damage or mold growth, and if so, the cleaning crew will take the necessary steps to correct it, including deodorizing and disinfecting.
If you’ve experienced water damage as a result of the flooding, Octagon Cleaning & Restoration can help. Give our team of certified water damage professionals a call at (207) 893-0002 in Maine and (603) 239-2100 in New Hampshire.