If you have a fire or water emergency, please call us now at (888) 863-1222

To have the optimal experience while using this site, you will need to update your browser. You may want to try one of the following alternatives:

Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Frozen Ground + Rain = Flooded Basements

3/13/2019 (Permalink)

Flooded basements can be costly to repair. The quicker action is taken to remove unwanted water, the lower the cost will be.

With February's record snowfall keeping the ground frozen and rain picking up throughout the rest of the week, the potential for flooding is exceptionally high. Below are some tips and tricks to dealing with this issue.

Proactive Tips

Keep water away from your house

Dig out trenches in the snow to direct water away from foundations and entry points *REMEMBER: Water flows downhill - make sure trenches are sloped accordingly*

Remove as much snow from your roof as possible

If you have ice dams, put ice melt on them to free up your gutters

Test your sump-pump - Pour 5 gallons of hot water into your sump pump pit; make sure it is clear on the outside and that water is flowing away from your home

If you have water inside ...

Mitigate as soon as possible! Quick action saves property and money!

  • Control the water that gets inside your house by directing the flow toward drains
  • Remove absorbent materials from the water path (clothing, rugs, carpets & padding, etc.)
  • Call your insurance agent and file a claim

*NOTE: Some water losses are covered, others are not -- your agent will be able to assist you in figuring that out

What You Can Do On Your Own

WATER EXTRACTION OPTIONS:

Shallow water sump pumps and Shop Vacs with auto pump-out units are available at local hardware and home-improvement stores for you to remove excess water on your own.

When to Call a Professional

  • If you are unable to remove all the water within 24-48 hours
  • If water has gotten into wall cavities
  • If insulation has gotten wet
  • If the standing water is excessive (6 inches or more)
  • If the affected basement area is finished and the water has flowed in through a finished wall
  • If there are high value items in the affected area
  • If you are overwhelmed and don't know where to begin
  • When structural drying is necessary (see notes below)

STRUCTURAL DRYING:

Once water is extracted, there is a brief window for drying before mold becomes a problem (typically 3-5 days.) It is extremely important to professionally control humidity and evaporation with the proper equipment.

When you find yourself in any of these situations, remember SERVPRO of The Twin Ports is always "Here to Help!" Call us at (218) 727-2575

Other News

View Recent Posts