Handling a Flooded Basement: 3 Actions You Can Take Right Away

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

A flooded basement in Round Rock, TX.

Ways To Handle a Basement Flood

When unexpected flooding affects your Round Rock, TX, home’s basement, it can be difficult to know how to proceed with finding the source of the water and how to drain it away. Unexpected floods can occur for an array of reasons, from sudden thaws to a plumbing mishap. Knowing which steps to take can help you handle a basement flood calmly, even if it was the last thing you expected.

1. Find the Flood Source

Thawing snow and ice and the resulting runoff may be a cause of basement flooding, especially if your roof has poor drainage or if your gutters and downspouts are clogged. Check your home’s drainage system and clear any clogs, then check to make sure runoff is being channeled away from your home, not toward it. If you find a broken water pipe in your basement, turn off the water to prevent further flooding.

2. Determine Safety Levels

If your basement is flooded with water because of burst pipe, the water should be relatively safe to enter if you want to retrieve stored items right away or attempt pipe repair. However, you may want to cut the power to the room first to avoid any risk of electric shock. If the flood water is coming in from poor drainage or spring flooding, it may contain microbes and pathogens that cause illness, and you should avoid touching this water. Seal off the room until help arrives.

3. Call In Flood Cleanup Professionals

A flood cleanup and restoration company can be your first line of defense against dangerous or standing water after a basement flood. Restoration techs can remove contaminated water safely and advise you about what kind of water damage it left behind. If you are concerned about mold, they can inspect and treat affected areas to ensure no growth occurs.

When your Round Rock, TX, home’s basement is affected by flooding, the resulting mess can be hard to handle. However, when you know how to react, you can minimize the damage and get the cleanup process started right away.