When a basement floods, even the most experienced DIY homeowners in the Denver area should weigh the many cons that come with taking on the job yourself. Here, our water disaster experts at Project X Restoration in Denver provide a bit of advice on what to do if your basement floods.
First and foremost, do not to enter the flooded area until a qualified professional tells you it is safe.
Your first concern needs to be the health and safety of you and your family. A flooded basement is extremely dangerous. These are just some of the hazards of flooded basements:
- Electrical Shock
A wet basement creates a real danger of electrical shock. Don’t turn on the lights or touch the electrical plugs. Be careful, but if it’s safe, turn off the electrical power at the main breaker box.
- Pollutants
A flooded basement may have raw sewage that may contain bacteria bringing sickness and diseases. Wear protective items including gloves, safety glasses, a face mask and be sure to wash thoroughly after any contact with sewage or items touched by sewage.
- Gas leaks
This should be a no-brainer when it comes to what to do if your basement floods. If you smell gas, get everyone out of the house right away. When you are safe, contact your utility company. They may even have an emergency line for this purpose.
- Chemicals
Even during the cleaning up phase, there are many contaminants in the water both from the flood water and from the harsh cleaning mixtures. Don’t go in the water unless you have to.
- Structural Damage
Some floods even weaken structural elements such as the walls and ceilings. If there are any signs of compromise, leave the area immediately.
- Sewage Backup
If a sewage backup caused the flooding or you are not sure yet, don’t run the washing machine or dishwasher, and don’t flush the toilet because it might make the flooding worse.
What to Do if Your Basement Floods
If a burst water supply pipe caused the flooding, shut off the main incoming water valve to help reduce damage. Flood water from a pipe will be clean and usually comes from an upper level of the house. You should always know where your house water shut-off is located and keep clear, safe access to it.
Once you and your family are safe, your next step is to make two phone calls. One to your insurance company and one to Project X to mitigate damage right away. For any water or flood emergency, we’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And we can even be on site anywhere in the Denver metro area in an hour or less and get to work right away. We’ll stop the water damage before it spreads and get your home or business back to its pre-loss condition.It’s important to know what to do if your basement floods. Our water disaster experts at Project X Restoration in Denver can help keep you and your family safe and begin to mitigate the flood damage.