What To Do If Your Basement Floods in New Jersey

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

Cleaning up after basement flooding can be overwhelming.

When you have the misfortune of walking downstairs and finding your basement flooding in New Jersey, it can be overwhelming. Where do you start? Who do you call? Are your contents submerged in water? How do you dry out a basement fast? Don't worry - we will walk you through the steps on how to clean up a flooded basement here!

For Immediate Flooded Basement Cleanup Services in New Jersey, Call SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County 24/7 

7 Steps For A Flooded Basement Cleanup

1.   Think safety first!

You should never enter a flooded basement in New Jersey without making sure it is safe to do so. If there is a large amount of standing water, you should be sure to turn the power off first. Make sure that there are no exposed wires touching any water, and see if any electrical appliances are submerged in water.

If your circuit breaker is in the flooded area or you're not sure how to cut the power, call an electrician for help.

2.   Get the right protective gear before entering any floodwater

This is important in case the water has come from a contaminated source, such as an overflowing river or a sewage pipe. Find rain boots, gloves, and even chest waders if the water is high enough. But - if the water is more than an inch or two, we would recommend calling a local water cleanup company in New Jersey that's equipped to handle major flooding in your home.

3.   Assess the situation - Find the source of your flooding and see what has been affected

Finding the source of the water will help to guide your next steps. If flooding is due to heavy rains, you should wait until the storm has passed and water has stopped flowing to start cleaning up, or else your efforts will quickly be ruined.

If flooding is due to something inside your home, such as a burst pipe, leaking washing machine hose, furnace, or any other broken appliance, turn off the water fast. 250 gallons of water can leak from a 1/8-inch pipe crack in just one day! This step will prevent even further damages.

After you find the source of the water, see what it has affected. Is the whole basement flooded, or just a certain area? If it is a finished living space, is the carpet saturated? Can it be saved and dried out, or should you just rip the wet carpet out and throw it away? Look to see if any of your contents have also been affected, and decide what to throw out accordingly.

Move any other contents out of the affected area to make your clean up efforts easier.

You should also inspect for any signs of mold, especially if water has been in the basement for a long period of time. Standing water and humid air creates the perfect environment for mold spores to grow and spread quickly into an infestation in as little as 48 hours.

4.   Remove water from the basement

The best way to approach this is to use your sump pump if you have one. It will pump the water out of your basement itself. But, if it isn't working or you don't have one, use a wet dry vacuum to suck up most of the standing water from the floor. After you get most of the water up, you can use a mop and bucket or even towels to tackle the puddles of water leftover.

If there's more than an inch of water in your basement, it may be best to call a flood cleanup company to handle extracting the water for you. Commercial grade extractors can get the job done much more quickly and fully than a wet dry vacuum.

5.   Start the basement drying process

Set up any fans or dehumidifiers you may have in the most water damaged or flood affected areas. This is incredibly important to prevent the growth of mold, mildew, or unwanted odors in your home.

Unfortunately, household fans and dehumidifiers are not always strong enough to get your basement completely dry, especially if it suffered from major flooding. In these cases, call a professional flood damage company like SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County. They use commercial grade air movers and dehumidifiers that will dry the basement in three days - and can use moisture meters to ensure no moisture is left behind.

6.   Clean & sanitize basement walls and floors

This last step is important to keep your home sanitary and further help prevent the growth of mold. This step is especially important if the water was from an unsanitary source that could possibly make you ill when you come in contact with it. SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County cleans and sanitizes all flood affected areas with antimicrobial to accomplish this last step - something that may be overlooked when cleaning up yourself.

7.   Take action to prevent basement flooding in the future

You don't want to do all this work or pay money to only have your basement flood again a few months later. If your basement is naturally prone to groundwater seepage, consider contacting a waterproofing company. If you can't waterproof it, be sure to move appliances on to cinder blocks or migrate them to another floor of your home to prevent them from being submerge if flooding strikes again.

If your flooding was due to something like a clogged floor drain, failed sump pump, crack in your foundation, a broken pipe, or anything else along these lines - be sure to get it fixed so it doesn't happen again.

If an inadequate drainage system outside your home was an issue, take steps to navigate water away from the foundation from your home. This can be done by just extending the downspout of your gutters so water runs off further away from your home, rather than seeping into your basement.

When Should I Call A Professional For Flooded Basement Cleanup in New Jersey?

There are definitely situations where you can clean up water in your basement by yourself. But, when flooding covers the entire floor or is more than an inch deep - it's best to call in a professional flooded basement company in New Jersey. These companies can ensure that all water is removed, the basement will be completely and properly dried out, and that it will be cleaned & sanitized to prevent mold & mildew.

Need Help? Call SERVPRO 24/7 - 908-788-8770

SERVPRO of Greater Hunterdon County is a 24/7 water damage company. We provide all customers free estimates, direct insurance billing, and guidance throughout the entire restoration process.