A flooded basement can be quite a harrowing experience, leaving you with more questions than answers, and worried for the safety of your property, possessions, and family. Here are our recommended steps to take when your basement floods.
As much as we would like to say that these things never happen, the reality is that the risk of a flooded basement is ever-present. Because of the severity of the situation that this can pose, it's important to be prepared for this unfortunate event.
If you are currently dealing with a flooded basement or want to ensure that you are as prepared as you can in this unfortunate situation, you may be looking for answers or directions on what to do. Don’t worry too much; Our restoration experts have come up with a series of best practice steps that should be taken to ensure the safety of your family and the protection of your home in the event of a flood.
Calgary’s Basement Flooding Restoration Experts
At 24/7 Restoration, our team of professional flood mitigation and cleanup technicians use the latest technology and expert techniques to rid your home of water damage, restore your home, and prevent devastating mould growth. No matter how significantly your home has been damaged by flooding, 24/7 Restoration is with you every step of the way, so you can rest easy knowing Calgary’s best are on the job.
Contact our 24/7 emergency service line to get started on your restoration process.
What To Do When Your Basement Floods
1. Gather yourself and understand the situation
When flooding strikes your home or basement, it is easy to feel stressed, overwhelmed and worried about your home, belongings, and family. Don’t worry, this is entirely normal, and it is okay to feel this way. It can be quite a terrifying experience seeing flooding happen in real-time. What is important though, is that you do the best you can to calm yourself and take stock of the situation at hand.
Once you have taken a second to calm your nerves, its’s time to tackle the present issue. Where is the water coming from? Is my family safe to stay here? What steps can I take to ensure their safety? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself in the event of flooding in your home before taking any action.
2. Stop the water if it’s safe
If you can locate the water source, and it is safe to do so, try and stop the flow of water. If the source is coming in from a burst pipe or broken appliance, immediately turn off the water to your home if it is safe to access it. If you cannot determine the source of the flooding, or it is not safe to stop the water, do not put yourself in harm's way.
3. Turn off the electricity if it’s safe
Just as you want to stop the water, you also want to attempt to turn off the electricity to your home. However, do not walk through water to get to your fuse box. Floodwater acts as an excellent conductor of electricity, so only turn off your electricity if you are able to do so without putting yourself in contact with the floodwater.
4. Get you and your family to a safe location
Obviously, if the flooding is less severe and you are able to stop the source of water, this step may be redundant, and you may very well be completely fine in your own home. However, in any event of basement flooding, the most important thing is the protection of your loved ones. The safest place may be as close as your backyard, neighbour's house, or a local friend nearby. However, if your basement is flooding from an external source, it might be wise to travel further away to a hotel room or, in the event of a natural disaster such as the Calgary flood of 2013, a local emergency shelter.
5. Contact those that can help
Now that we are sure that everyone is safe, it's time to contact those that can help repair, restore, and financially support you through this difficult event. Some people you will want to contact include:
- 911 if your flooded basement has caused an emergency or somebody in your household is hurt.
- Your home insurance company to learn about what your plan will cover and initiate sending an insurance adjuster to evaluate what you are covered for.
- 24/7 Restoration, a local leader in Calgary home and basement flooding restoration. Our expert team has decades of experience providing rapid, effective, and efficient flood mitigation and restoration to Calgary home and business owners. Our 24/7 emergency line is always available to help you get through this stressful time and restore your home to its pre-loss condition. Contact us today by calling (403) 247-4365.
6. Take pictures of everything
Before anybody even thinks about touching, repairing, or restoring your home or belongings, take some time to document as much as you can. Take pictures and recordings of absolutely everything in your home that has in some way been impacted by the flooding. These images and videos can then be submitted to your insurance company as evidence so that you can get as accurate of an assessment as possible.
The documentation doesn’t just stop once the cleaning process begins. As 24/7 Restoration proceeds to clean, repair, and restore your home, be sure to continue to document the process for your own and your insurance companies records.
7. Start cleaning and restoring
Depending on the scale of the damage, the cleaning and restoration process can take some time. The process for home flooding restoration typically takes the following steps.
- Water extraction and removal
- Drying and dehumidifying
- Humidity and airflow control
- Reconstruction, repairing, and restoration
- Mould mitigation and mediation
At 24/7 Restoration, we go through each of these steps with diligence, care, and professionalism. We are not satisfied with our restoration projects until your damaged property is in better condition than before the flooding, all risk of mould growth has been mitigated, and there is no trace of our involvement.
8. Evaluate what happened, and how it can be prevented
Your flooded basement has been repaired, and your home looks amazing; now what? Now is the time to evaluate what happened and how it can be prevented in the future. While basement flooding can come from any number of locations, wherever it came from, there is likely something that can be improved. Whether it be inspecting the pipes in your home for issues, evaluating the foundation of your property to prevent future floodwater from getting in, or something as simple as replacing old appliances, the 24/7 Restoration team will take the time and effort to evaluate what caused the flooding, and how we can help prevent it from occurring in the future.
24/7 Restoration Has Got Your Back
No matter the challenge or how substantial the loss, our expert crews are ready and waiting, 24 hours a day. Whenever basement flooding impacts your home, it is imperative to act fast so that any unnecessary damage, such as mould growth, is avoided. At 24/7 Restoration, we pride ourselves on being the fastest acting restoration company in all of Calgary. Contact us today for rapid, effective, and efficient flood restoration services! Call our team at (403) 247-4365, or fill out our online contact form below for one of our team members to reach out to you.
FAQ’s
How long does it take for mould to grow in my flooded basement?
Because basements are naturally more humid than the rest of your house, mould tends to grow more quickly than in other areas of your home. In a flooded basement, mould can begin to grow within 24-48 hours of water exposure.
Is it safe to walk through a flooded basement?
Never walk through a flooded basement unless the electricity has been turned off in your home. The risk of electrocution is incredibly high. Even if the electricity is turned off, walking through a flooded basement is not safe as the water may be contaminated, and there may be objects in the water that can cause bodily harm.
Can I clean my flooded basement myself?
While nothing is stopping you from cleaning your basement yourself, having the assistance of local basement flooding experts can be a huge asset. We have the training, equipment, and detailed experience to handle all issues with a flooded basement.