The shock and anguish associated with finding that your basement has become flooded is something you would not wish on anyone. A flooded basement may appear at first glance to be a rather hopeless situation but rest assured that it can be remedied if the correct steps are taken.

Once you have wits about you, you need to quickly take action. It takes less than two days for dangerous and harmful mold to begin its destructive growth, so the clock is ticking. Turn off the supply of electricity to the area in order to eliminate the possibility of electrocution and then set your sights on getting any standing out out of your basement.

If you decide to undertake the job yourself you will need a few essential items such as a sump pump, a few fans and at least one household humidifier. If you do not happen to have these items on hand, you can find them at most any home improvement or local hardware store. Pump out the standing water, remove the wet items and then move in the fans and dehumidifier so that the area begins to dry. Do not turn on the heat, even though you may think it will help with the drying process. Warmth and moisture is what spurs mold to begin its development so a hot and humid area is what you want to avoid.

You will next need to decide which of the water damaged items are salvageable and which should be thrown away. Generally speaking, thick carpeting that has been totally submerged in water will most likely need to be discarded. The same holds true for thick cushions as mold and mildew will probably begin to take form before these items can be thoroughly dried.

Once the area is dry, you will need to scrub the walls and floor with clean water and a good quality cleaning solution. Be certain that crawl spaces, cupboards and closets are dried completely as well as the areas behind baseboards and molding.

If you do not have the time nor the resources to deal with your flooded basement, call us. Our team of certified and highly trained professionals will arrive on the scene quickly to assess the damage and to take an immediate course of action. We have the latest equipment including trunk-mounted water extractors, industrial strength blowers and special dehumidifiers that we use to ensure that order is quickly restored and that no harmful and dangerous mold can begin to grow.

Your sump pump is the heart of your home’s waterproofing system. It it fails to run as it should excess water cannot drain effectively and will build up in your basement, causing a flood. It is therefore important to maintain your sump pump by following the maintenance guidelines provided by the manufacturer. The most common cause of basement flooding is the malfunction of your sump pump system.

The reason that your sump pump runs poorly or not at all could be due to a couple of things. It could have a burned out motor or a broken control switch. However, the most common cause of a malfunctioning sump pump is blockage due to debris and dirt. The inlet screen will become blocked by debris, dirt and grime which will hinder the pump from draining the sump and this leads to an over-flow. You should see to it that you clean out your sump pump on a regular basis. If your pump runs frequently due to climate or a high water table, you should do an inspection and a clean out every three months. In normal conditions, a once-a-year inspection and clean out should suffice.

Be sure to wear rubber gloves because it is a messy job. Remove the dirt and debris from the pump. Once you have most of the gunk out, use your garden hose to flush the pump. If the float rises and triggers the pump, all is good. Taking the time to inspect and clean your sump pump is well worth it because a flooded basement can cost thousands of dollars to clean up. If items like the floor, walls, support beams and furnishings are wet your out of pocket expenses could become expensive if you lack the proper type of homeowners insurance coverage.

If you do discover that your home has become flooded due to a malfunctioning sump pump, you will need to spring into action quickly. The easiest route is to call in a flood restoration company. This is the obvious solution if you have insurance coverage because these professionals will arrive on the scene quickly with industrial strength equipment such as pumps and dehumidifiers. Otherwise you will have to foot the bill yourself and get to work. You can rent the equipment you need from a local rental company.

Be certain that the electricity and fuel service is turned off before entering your basement. Recruit a small army of friends to come and help you as there is a whole to do. Once the majority of the water is pumped out a wet/dry vac will need to be used to suck up as much of the remaining water as possible. Then your mop brigade needs to clean up the rest. Next comes the need for a few box fans and a dehumidifier. The drying out process will take at least 24 hours so in the meantime clean up and dispose of items that are damaged beyond repair.

It is in your best interest to keep that sump pump of yours humming happily around the clock. Take good care of it and it will work hard at safeguarding your home against a basement flood.

When water enters your home or property, it could do significant damage. This is why it is always recommended that every person must always take measures to prevent water. But, in the unfortunate event that water has already seeped through your home, there is nothing much left to do except to salvage what you can and make sure everybody is safe.

Here are some simple guidelines on how you can deal with water damage to various household items:

Floors and Walls

Keeping them dry will help to avoid molds and rotting. You can utilize a de-humidifier, vacuum cleaner, or high-powered fans to hasten the drying. If the floors and walls are really soaked in water, you may need to replace them completely for health reasons, as bacteria and fungi thrive on moist environments, and could double in number every 15 minutes.

Appliances

Many electronic items and electrical appliances can still be saved as long as they are turned off before getting exposed in water. As soon as it is possible to do so, take them out to dry in your yard. Some appliances may need to be taken apart so that wires and circuits that may be wet could also dry up.

Furniture and Mattresses

Wooden furniture pieces need to be exposed to heat immediately to prevent dry rot and further damage. Remove sofa and bed covers and hung them outside, however, if dirty water has soaked your mattress, such as in the case of toilet valve leakage, it is better to throw them away for health reasons.

Carpets and Flooring

This is perhaps tiring work but when carpets and vinyl flooring are soaked in water, even just a little, you need to make sure they are dried completely. It may be a good option to hire a clean-up service to this for you if you don’t have the means to do it yourself. There are instances when carpets and vinyl flooring will need to be taken out because drying them with vacuum cleaners and fans will not be enough.

Vehicles

Don’t even assume that your car is exempt from water damage. Floodwaters could easily penetrate it so don’t make the mistake of not checking your car for any signs of damage. Check the trunk, dashboard, under the seats, and glove compartment for damage in the forms of mud, rush, or silt. Upholstery and carpeting are prone to water damage too and may fade or stain; if you smell a musty odor inside then it means there is mildew or molds, and this is a strong indication of water infiltration. It may be best to send your vehicle to a mechanic so that they can properly diagnose the extent of the damage and fix it.

We specialize in helping property owners recover from any size disaster, and our team provides local water damage repair services for Rochester and Rochester Hills, covering all of Oakland County Michigan homeowners. We have serviced local Metro Detroit residents since 1979. We offer 24 hour emergency water damage repair services for wet and water damaged basements, broken sump pumps, sewer backup disasters and flash flooding! You can count on a quick response when calling Disaster Team, and rest assured we are licensed, bonded, insured and members of the BBB.

Wet and Flooded Basement Cleanup Service Rochester Hills Michigan

If you have a home or business in Rochester Hills, Michigan that has suffered from water damage or flooding, we can be on scene within sixty minutes to begin cleaning up the mess. Our water damage technicians undergo thorough background checks, are certified by the IICRC and we are members of the RIA. Our team has one focus, providing you with exceptional service! We recognize the importance of responding quickly to help reduce the potential of mold and mildew growth and promise to provide 100% customer satisfaction. We have provided disaster recovery services to property owners in Michigan for over 30 years. You can reach our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency water damage repair service.

Rochester Hills City Resources

Department of Public Works
National Flood Insurance
FEMA

Emergency Sewage Cleanup and Basement Flooding Disasters in Rochester Hills

You can count on our team to quickly restore your property from a small or large disaster. Using top industry equipment, allows us to remove water quickly. Our extraction machines and flood pumpers can remove thousands of gallons of water per hour. We have small and large dehumdifiers (desiccant) to dry large commercial and industrial properties quickly. From a small sewer backup, to multi story flood our large inventory of drying equipment will get your property restored quickly. Call us anytime for small or large basement problems. If you have a sump pump failure or malfunction, we can assist you with repair and installation through a certified plumber. You can count on Disaster Team for all of your disaster recovery needs in and around Rochester Hills Michigan!

Additional cities we service near Rochester Hills:
Flooded Basement Cleanup Troy
Flooded Basement Cleanup Shelby Township
Flooded Basement Cleanup Macomb County

We specialize in helping property owners recover from any size disaster, and our team provides local water damage repair services for Cleveland, Medina, Lakewood, North Ridgeville, Lorain, Cuyahoga County homeowners. We have serviced local Ohio area residents since 1979. We offer 24 hour emergency water damage repair services for wet and water damaged basements, broken sump pumps, sewer backup disasters and flash flooding!

Wet and Flooded Basement Cleanup Services Cleveland, Ohio

If you have a home or business in Cleveland, Westlake, North Royalton, Berea Ohio that has suffered from water damage or flooding, we can be on scene within sixty minutes to begin cleaning up the mess. Our water damage technicians undergo thorough background checks, are certified by the IICRC and we are members of the RIA. Our team has one focus, providing you with exceptional service! We recognize the importance of responding quickly to help reduce the potential of mold and mildew growth and promise to provide 100% customer satisfaction. We have provided disaster recovery services to property owners in Illinois for over 30 years. You can reach our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency water damage repair service.

You can count on our team to quickly restore your property from a small or large disaster. Using top industry equipment, allows us to remove water quickly. Our extraction machines and flood pumpers can remove thousands of gallons of water per hour. We have small and large dehumidifiers (desiccant) to dry large commercial and industrial properties quickly. From a small sewer backup, to multi story flood our large inventory of drying equipment will get your property restored quickly. Call us anytime for small or large basement problems. If you have a sump pump failure or malfunction, we can assist you with repair and installation through a certified plumber. You can count on Disaster Team for all of your disaster recovery needs in and around Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Ohio!

Emergency Sewage Cleanup and Basement Flooding Disaster Service in Cleveland

Additional areas we service near Cleveland:
Flooded Basement Cleanup Columbus
Flooded Basement Cleanup Dayton
Flooded Basement Cleanup Cincinnati

We specialize in helping property owners recover from any size disaster, and our team provides local water damage repair services for Macomb Township, Clinton Township and Macomb County Michigan homeowners. We have serviced local Metro Detroit residents since 1979. We offer 24 hour emergency water damage repair services for wet and water damaged basements, broken sump pumps, sewer backup disasters and flash flooding! The best news is that our office is located just minutes from Macomb Township and we can be at your doorstep quickly to begin cleaning and drying out your property. Disaster Team is licensed, bonded, insured and registered with the Better Business Bureau.

Wet and Flooded Basement Cleanup Service Macomb Township Michigan

If you have a home or business in Macomb Township Michigan that has suffered from water damage or flooding, we can be on scene within sixty minutes to begin cleaning up the mess. Our water damage technicians undergo thorough background checks, are certified by the IICRC and we are members of the RIA. Our team has one focus, providing you with exceptional service! We recognize the importance of responding quickly to help reduce the potential of mold and mildew growth and promise to provide 100% customer satisfaction. We have provided disaster recovery services to property owners in Michigan for over 30 years. You can reach our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency water damage repair service.

Macomb Township Property Resource Sites

What is Mold Guide
Macomb Township Public Works
Flood Smart

Sewage Cleanup and Basement Flooding Disasters in Macomb Township MI

You can count on our team to quickly restore your property from a small or large disaster. Using top industry equipment, allows us to remove water quickly. Our extraction machines and flood pumpers can remove thousands of gallons of water per hour. We have small and large dehumidifiers (desiccant) to dry large commercial and industrial properties quickly. From a small sewer backup, to multi story flood our large inventory of drying equipment will get your property restored quickly. Call us anytime for small or large basement problems. If you have a sump pump failure or malfunction, we can assist you with repair and installation through a certified plumber. You can count on Disaster Team for all of your disaster recovery needs in and around Macomb Township Michigan!

Additional cities we service near Macomb Township:
Flooded Basement Cleanup Shelby Township
Flooded Basement Cleanup Sterling Heights
Flooded Basement Cleanup Oakland County

We specialize in helping property owners recover from any size disaster, and our team provides local water damage repair services for Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove, Elgin and Waukegan Illinois homeowners. We have serviced local Illinois area residents since 1979. We offer 24 hour emergency water damage repair services for wet and water damaged basements, broken sump pumps, sewer backup disasters and flash flooding!

When you choose to work with Disaster Team, feel confident you are dealing with a licensed contractor that has an A+ rating with the better business bureau. Our sole focus is making sure you are 100% satisfied with our work, customer satisfaction is our number one goal!

Wet and Flooded Basement Cleanup Arlington Heights Illinois

If you have a home or business in Arlington Heights, Schaumburg or Waukegan Illinois area that has suffered from water damage or flooding, we can be on scene within sixty minutes to begin cleaning up the mess. Our water damage technicians undergo thorough background checks, are certified by the IICRC and we are members of the RIA. Our team has one focus, providing you with exceptional service! We recognize the importance of responding quickly to help reduce the potential of mold and mildew growth and promise to provide 100% customer satisfaction. We have provided disaster recovery services to property owners in Illinois for over 30 years. You can reach our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency water damage repair service.

Sewage Cleanup in Arlington Heights IL – Basement Flooding Disasters

You can count on our team to quickly restore your property from a small or large disaster. Using top industry equipment, allows us to remove water quickly. Our extraction machines and flood pumpers can remove thousands of gallons of water per hour. We have small and large dehumidifiers (desiccant) to dry large commercial and industrial properties quickly. From a small sewer backup, to multi story flood our large inventory of drying equipment will get your property restored quickly. Call us anytime for small or large basement problems. If you have a sump pump failure or malfunction, we can assist you with repair and installation through a certified plumber. You can count on Disaster Team for all of your disaster recovery needs in and around Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Inverness, Lake Forest, Hoffman Estates or Waukegan Illinois!

Resources and tips for Arlington Heights Residents

Water Department

Home Flood Insurance

Understanding Mold

Additional areas we service near Arlington Heights:
Flooded Basement Cleanup Schaumburg

Residents in Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison Wisconsin areas are being warned that localized flooding could be a concern this week. There are winter storms moving into the region which are expected to drop up to 2 inches of rain on Chicago. Coupled with temperatures hovering well above the freezing mark, the falling rain will turn the snow on the ground into more water to cause possible flooding. How much flooding will occur is dependent upon how frozen the ground is below the snow. The National Weather Service said Sunday that the frost is between 6 and 10 inches deep across the Chicago area. If the ground does not thaw much, the agency believes that there will be a significant amount of frozen ground to cause water run-off in low-lying areas which could result in flooding.

On Sunday, residents of Chicago endured a wet and soggy day. The temperatures on Sunday were hovering in the high 40s, to give those in the Windy City hopes of an early spring. However, city and county officials were more focused on the possibility of flooding as the warm temperatures were expected to melt the area snow which could very well flood some parts of the greater metropolitan area. While Chicago was in the firing lines, Wisconsin residents were busy enduring the second day of rain. The combination of some late season snow and a full day of rain showers proved to be problematic for sump pumps and residents with other foundation issues at their properties.

There were several flood advisories in effect across the Chicago region over the weekend. There also were flood warnings and watches issued near rivers and streams that are rising due to excessive snow melt and steadily falling rain. The ground in the area is frozen just below the surface so most of the rain is running off into drainage systems which are filling rapidly.

The Midwest has been hit by several winter storms during the past couple of weeks following what was a very uneventful winter. This late-season storm activity has prompted officials in several Midwestern states to ask their residents to review whether they may need flood insurance for their homes. People are being reminded that flood damage isn’t covered in standard homeowner’s insurance but rather is a special policy one must purchase extra. People are also being reminded that flood insurance has a 30-day period after purchase before it goes into effect. Therefore, if this insurance is needed, now’s the time to purchase it ahead of the spring season which typically brings with it flooding.

Just as weather experts predicted, dozens of tornadoes were reported Saturday across the U.S. as large hailstones the size of baseballs broke windows and ripped siding off of homes in Nebraska. One tornado did damage to a hospital in Iowa in the town of Creston.

Dozens of tornadoes were reported in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The number of twisters is thought to be around sixty. Baseball size hail pounded portions of northeastern Nebraska, causing widespread damage to automobiles, homes and businesses. The National Weather Service is warning residents in the Midwest to listen to local weather reports as the massive, powerful storm system moves in a northeastwardly direction out of the Plains states. Fast moving twisters are expected to touch down overnight Saturday and into Sunday – which is a very perilous time for people as they may not hear warnings.

At least ten people in Norman, Oklahoma sought medical treatment Saturday when a tornado ripped through that town, tearing roofs off homes, ripping up telephone poles and shredding trees. At least one hundred people were staying at local shelters there.

This is only the 2nd time in history that the Storm Prediction Center has put out a high-risk warning over one day in advance. The first time was in April of ’06 when up to one hundred twisters tore across the southeastern portion of the United States, killing twelve people and damaging over one thousand homes in the state of Tennessee.

Last month, the National Weather Service started using terms like “mass devastation” and “unsurvivable” in the warnings it issues. This is being done to make people sit up and take notice when severe weather and the possibility of tornadoes is likely. As the tornadoes peppered the landscape across the country’s midsection Saturday, tens of thousands of people took cover.

This spring is going to be a very active tornado season in the United States. The season runs on average from the first of April through June and already the country has seen dozens and dozens of twisters touch down. No one is immune from tornadoes as one can strike anywhere at anytime. Those living in high-risk regions of the country are being reminded to take local storm watches and warnings seriously. You often only have a few short minutes to take cover in a basement or inside room by the time a tornado warning is issued.

Prevent Basement Flooding With These Tips

One of two things causes basement flooding — inadequate flood protection on the property and natural disasters. Although natural disasters are unpreventable, preparations ahead of time can save thousands of dollars later. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee one-hundred percent safety in such situations.

Other factors that affect basement flooding include faulty rain drainage systems, land that slopes, leaking foundations and plumbing in need of repair. Naturally, water seeks the lowest point it can reach, where it collects into a pool. By looking at how rainwater runs off the buildings and the land itself, homeowners can figure out where they may need water-diverting tools, such as rain gutters and downspouts. This is obvious during a heavy rainstorm, which provides a good chance to look at where the water goes.

Rain gutters along the roof need proper alignment, as well as being free of holes and debris. The downspout must be clear and long enough at the base to direct rainwater away from foundations and driveways. If the downspout goes directly into the ground, chances are that it empties into the sewer line. This is not a problem unless the sewer and rainwater runoff systems combine into one, which could send sewage overflow into the basement by way of the basement drain or toilet. By changing the in-ground downspout to an above-ground release type, extra rainwater will not add to the backed up sewer.

If the problem is a flooding river or nearby stream, sandbags stacked around the house will work wonders. Depending on the type of soil, floodwater can simply return to normal or soak into the ground. When the water soaks into the soil, groundswells will occur, putting added pressure on the foundation walls. Cracks and deteriorating cement walls sometimes result, letting water into the basement. These cracks are repairable in one of two ways: sealing from both the outside and the inside, or only from inside the basement. To seal the outside, a professional contractor is in order. Alternately, to seal the cracks from the inside only, most homeowners will find it easy enough to do the work themselves.

During the winter, temperatures that drop below freezing can crack pipes and plumbing exposed to the cold air. It is crucial to keep water out of the pipes unless it drips slowly. By letting the faucets inside continually drip, water inside the pipes keeps moving, therefore, it does not freeze.

Always detach outdoor water hoses and store before freezing weather starts. Next, turn off outdoor faucets from the inside, and drain any remaining water from outside. Wrapping outside pipes or those exposed to freezing temperatures is another helpful way to lower the chances of burst pipes that lead to basement flooding.