Causes Of A Wet Basement
Flooded basements, or a wet basement, is something that happen regularly and can be the cause of a nearby river that overflowed, or heavy rain that fell in the immediate vicinity of your house. Basements are classified as flooded the moment the level of the water goes over 6 inches. There are some precautionary methods that will stop basements from flooding, as well as help clean up the basement's water damage.
Importantly, make sure the gutters are sufficiently cleaned from debris, because any sort of foreign objects can easily cause an overflow of rain water. It is recommended that all the water from the gutters drain away about 6 feet from the house walls.
Also, if you make sure that the grade around your house slope away from the house, it will help prevent any dangers of major flooding. A network of carefully placed pipes, buried under the ground and right around the walls, to drain rain water to the back or front areas of your house, is also an easy way to prevent flooding and it does not cost an arm and a leg either.
A proper dehumidifier down in your basement, will help keep it dry at all times. Installing a drain-hose model is the best, as it will drain water straight into a sink. This helps you from having to empty it when it is full. It is important as well to make sure that the drywall is correctly installed down there. There should be at least one inch between the concrete floor and the bottom of the dry wall, that is open.
Remember to make sure that every single vertical crack in all the foundation walls are sealed properly, before finishing off any basements. Waterproofing the walls are essential as well, when trying to keep moisture out.
Make very sure all electrical wiring or electrical household items are clear from any water. You need to get rid of the water as soon as possible, by using a wet/dry vacuum to suck it up. To rent a second dehumidifier and letting fans run as well, will help dry the air much quicker too. Do keep all windows closed though. You need to dry the air in your basement-area, as well as in the rest of the house, as much as possible.
After you have done all that you could and not all the water is gone, or it does not dry out at all, it is best you call in some professional help. There are companies with years of experience that specializes in the draining of flooded areas and in the removing of mold problems. Mold is a serious problem that occurs in most damp and dark areas and you need a professional to take care of it.
A wet basement is not something you should mess with, and it will be a very good idea if you check your entire house and basement-area for signs of leakage, damp spots and mold on a regular basis. If you suspect there might be a leakage, you should immediately try to identify the reason and fix it, or get a professional to do the job for you.
About the Author
Have a wet basement? Consider waterproofing and foundation crack repair to bring back the health of your basement systems. They offer basement specialists to get the job done smart and as effectively as possible. http://www.waterproofingsolutions.ca
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