What You Should Know If Your Basement Has Water Damage

1/9/2023 (Permalink)

What You Should Know If Your Basement Has Water Damage

Have you ever found yourself in a situation with water damage in your basement? Don't worry, it happens to the best of us. It can be quite annoying and sometimes even dangerous if not handled properly. In this guide, we'll go over some steps that will help you assess the damage and protect your family.

Shut off your Electricity, Gas, and Water

Before you do anything else, it's important to shut off your electricity and gas. Here's how:

• Turn off the circuit breaker or fuse box for the room where you'll be working.
• If you're using a generator, make sure that it is plugged into an outlet that isn't connected to a wall switch. This will ensure that it doesn't turn on when you least expect it!

Now that your power is out, let's move on to water supply lines:

Call a Professional

If your basement is a disaster, it's best to call in the pros. They'll have the right tools and equipment, and they'll be trained to handle whatever situation comes up. Professionals also have experience working with water damage situations, so they know what to expect when they're dealing with flooded basements or crawlspaces. Finally (and most importantly), professionals are insured for this kind of work—which means that if any damage does happen while they're on your property, their insurance will cover it.

Assess the Damage

When you find that your basement has water damage, the first thing you should do is take photos of the damage. You can use these pictures to compare against what happened later on and help you determine whether or not the problem was fixed effectively.

You should also check for mold. Mold can grow anywhere moisture is present, and it needs only a few days or weeks to spread throughout your house if left unchecked. Mold spores are very small and will often go undetected until they have grown into large colonies capable of causing sickness in humans who inhale them. If this happens, then it's time to call in an expert so they can test for any signs of mold growth and remove them before they become too much trouble!

Maybe Call Your Insurance Company

If you have a flood, the first thing to do is call your insurance company. The second thing to do is call your insurance company and make sure they will cover the damage. If it turns out that your policy doesn’t cover floods, then call your agent again and find out if there are any perks or discounts for which you qualify. For example, if you have older plumbing in your Laguna Beach, CA home (think: lead pipes), this might be enough of an excuse for them to waive some of the standard deductibles on water damage claims.

If it's bad enough, then don't worry—you won't need to deal with it yourself! Your insurance company has specialists who can handle everything from drying out soaked carpets to replacing damaged drywall and flooring with new materials that look similar but aren't actually made from toxic chemicals (like asbestos). Remember: stay calm during all this drama so that everyone stays safe until things get back on track!

Protect your Valuables

If you have valuables in your basement, make sure to secure them with plastic. For larger items like furniture, you can use a tarp or drop cloth to cover them up. If there are any drawers or cabinets in your basement, make sure to open and close them as little as possible so that they don’t get wet.

If you have a dehumidifier on hand, this would be an excellent time to use it! It will help dry out the air faster by sucking up moisture from the air and converting it into water vapor that is released outside of your home through the exhaust hose attached to the back of your machine.

If there is already moisture in your basement (or if you know that there has been flooding), it might also be helpful for you to install some sort of sump pump system right away before further damage occurs—especially if this is something that happens regularly during rainy seasons.

Document the Damage

Once you've determined where the water is coming from, it's essential that you document the damage with photos. You should take photos of the damaged area prior to any repairs or cleanup. This will allow you to compare how things were after they were repaired and how they are now—allowing you to identify whether there was further damage or deterioration as a result of these repairs. Take these photos with a date and time stamp so that they're easy to reference later on.

You should also take detailed notes about what happened before anything was fixed (if there was no actual repair), so this can be compared against both your initial documentation and any future documentation of change in status. For example: "There was standing water in front of my basement door." Compile this information into an organized logbook so it's readily accessible when needed later on down the road—it'll make things much easier for everyone involved!

Know When to Call a Professional

If you’re dealing with water damage in your home, here are some steps to take:

• Know how to shut off the water. If there is flooding in your basement or another part of your home, it is important that you immediately shut off the main valve for that area. A professional plumber can help with this process and determine what caused the initial leaky pipe or broken pipe altogether.
• Know when mold may be an issue in addition to structural damage from water damage in your basement. If the moisture level reaches 80%, mold will begin to grow on any material that has absorbed moisture into its pores—this includes items like drywall and insulation which are typically found inside walls/ceilings of homes built after 1950s-era construction standards (as well as older homes). 

Remember, water damage can be devastating and expensive to fix. It’s important to take action as soon as possible so that you don’t find yourself paying for repairs down the road. If your basement has been flooded, call SERVPRO of Laguna Beach immediately!