Your Hartland Basement Flooded After a Storm? Do This
7/8/2024 (Permalink)
![A flooded basement](/FranchiseContent/NewsPhotos/10121-a2a9f18a-d125-4259-a56f-a20a160e9b1d.jpg)
Basements can flood and cause water damage any time of the year, but late winter/early spring poses its own risks. Maybe there’s a late-season snow or ice storm. Maybe there’s a protracted deep freeze—winter’s last blast of cold air. Maybe everything warms up fast and there’s an early and intense thaw with flooding. Or maybe there’s rain that falls upon snow and the whole mess seems like it’s trying to get into your Hartland basement!
Unfortunately, February and March are prime time for flooded basements here in Connecticut, thanks to unpredictable weather and sudden storms. Read on for tips on how to cope with water damage in your basement.
(Note that while you can attempt all the repair yourself, if you don’t thoroughly dry out your basement, furniture and other possessions, you stand a strong chance of creating a mold infestation. If you have any doubts about tackling this job, SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield will handle everything, start to finish, no worries.)
What To Do When Your Basement Floods
- Act fast: The sooner you respond to the water in your basement, the sooner you can stop the flow, start cleaning it up and, if needed, get professional help.
- Be safe: First, shut off the electricity to the basement. This may require getting an electrician to your home if you can’t reach your electric panel. Wear protective gear, especially boots and gloves. Consider a mask or goggles, too. And be careful walking around, since the wet floor may be slippery.
- Stop the water flow: If it’s a burst pipe that’s flooding your basement, shut off water to the house at the main valve. And if your basement has a floor drain, make sure it’s not clogged.
- Get rid of the water: If you have a sump pump, use that. Otherwise, a wet/dry vac or a mop and a bucket will do.
What To Do After the Water’s Gone
- Dry your stuff: Remove your wet furniture and possessions from the basement to dry. Ideally, you can drag things outside to dry in the sunshine. Everything will need to sit for at least 48 hours to prevent mold from growing, and even then, your items may not be completely dry.
- Get rid of carpet: Generally, carpeting is a lost cause after a basement flood. You’ll need to rip it up and toss it out and let the flooring dry.
- Let the basement dry out: Open windows and doors, and run fans and dehumidifiers. This will take several days. Also remove wet or damaged drywall and insulation—that’ll have to be replaced.
- Wash and sanitize: Once everything’s dry, wash it all, including walls and floor, and use a disinfecting spray or cleaner to discourage mold growth.
If You Need Flooded Basement Cleanup
When you call the flooded basement cleanup experts at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield, we’ll respond ASAP, stop the water damage in its tracks, evaluate the situation, remove all the moisture from your home, and restore your possessions and structure to before-damage condition.
If you have suffered damage from a storm or other flooding disaster at your home or business, call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785
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The team at SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield has specialized training and experience in storm damage restoration, water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, commercial services and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield at 860-216-2785.
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SERVPRO of Bloomfield/Enfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
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Call (860) 216-2785
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