Waking up and going downstairs only to find out that you have a flooded basement isn't exactly good news. Although your first reaction may be to freak out and want to hide until all of the water magically evaporates, there are a few easy steps that you can take to avoid the inevitable melt down.
Step 1: Call Your Homeowner's Insurance Company
Depending on the type of homeowners insurance that you have, your flooded basement may be covered under it. Although you will have to meet your deductible before they pay for anything, once you do, they should be able to pay for everything else. Because basement clean up can be expensive after a flood, having the insurance money to cover the costs will practically be life changing.
Step 2: Get Fans and Pull Up Any Wet Carpet
Once you file your homeowners insurance claim, it's time to get to work and start airing everything out. One of the first things you should do is pull up soggy carpet and place fans underneath it. Depending on how extensive the water damage was will determine if your carpet is even salvageable. If you look at it and just notice that it's really damp, the you may be able to prevent mold from growing underneath it by pulling it up right away. Remember that the more circulation that's around your carpet, the better.
Step 3: Call a Water Damage Restoration Company
Whether your insurance company is covering your basement flood or not, hiring a water damage restoration company will help you salvage what is left in your basement. These companies will come out to your house, assess all of the water damage, and then clean it up so that mold doesn't start to grow. Also, they will do things like tear off drywall and pull up carpet so that they can clean behind everything. They will also suction up all of the water so that you don't have any standing water.
Taking the proper precautions after you have a flooded baseman can save you a headache later on down the line. To make sure that everything is done right, make sure that you keep these things in mind (and don't forget to take a deep breath). To learn a little bit more about how you can clean up after a flooded basement, reach out to a water damage restoration company near you today.