Pakistan is going through a massive monsoon spell, with heavy rain wreaking havoc in rural and urban areas of the country in the form of flash floods and overflowing rivers. These events, caused by climate changes, have lay-waste to swathes of the country’s districts, killing thousands so far.
The situation remains dynamic, and many more districts have been affected. Moreover, the number of calamity-declared districts is expected to rise as the monsoon spell is expected to continue
Since flash floods warnings are high everywhere, being prepared for unforeseen circumstances is essential. In this blog, Graana.com, Pakistan’s 1st Online Real Estate Marketplace, will guide you on how to remove water from a flooded basement.
Essential Steps to Remove Flooded Water
Water entering your house can be a destructive problem that no one wants to experience. If you have witnessed flood water inside your basement caused by urban flooding, you must deal with it immediately, so it doesn’t cause much damage.
Here are some steps to remove water to clean your flooded basement.
Make Sure the Basement is Safe to Enter
Before beginning the clean-up process, ensure it is safe to enter the basement. There is a high chance of electric currents running through the water. To avoid health risks, turn off the electricity, check for gas leaks, and the sewage system.
Moreover, wear protective clothing such as long rubber boots, overalls, gloves, protective glasses, and a mask.
Identify the leaks
After ensuring your safety, the next thing you need to do is find the source of water. If the water level is not high, you can check the main entry points for leakage.
There are various points of entry for water, such as windows, pipelines, cracks, and sanitary sources, such as toilets and kitchen sewerage lines.
Remove Water
After identifying the source of water, the next step is to remove the standing water in the basement.
If the water level is only a few inches, you can remove it using wet vacuums, sump pumps, sponges, towels, buckets, and mops. However, If you can’t do it yourself, you can call a professional plumber.
Remove Mud and Dirt
Flood water brings all sorts of dirt into your houses, such as mud and debris. After removing flood water from your basement, you have to start cleaning the mud and debris right away.
If the mud dries up, it will be much harder for you to clean it. You can clean the debris using a vacuum or a cloth.
Dry Out the Basement
After removing dirt and water from your basement, the next step is to dry out the area. Since basements don’t have better ventilation, try your best to keep the area dry.
If you want your space not to get affected by mold, then it is important to dry the basement at the right time. Mold can create some serious health problems, making it essential to instantly clean it out.
To avoid any moldy smells from getting stuck in your room, you can use a dryer, fan, hoover, air conditioner, and a dehumidifier, or you can open windows.
Clean and Disinfect
Cleaning and disinfection are important after drying out your basement. Once your basement is dry, the next step is to disinfect and clean the surfaces such as floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, and other belongings.
Mop the floor with good surface cleaners and use anti-bacterial disinfectant to sterilize your area and other belongings affected by flood water.
Remove Damage items
Flood water easily ruins your valuable items. It is always better to get rid of any ruined items instead of trying to salvage them. Here is a list of items that should be thrown away if they are affected by flood water.
- Flooring, carpets, and rugs.
- Food items such as vegetables, canned food, herbs
- Insulation materials.
- Furniture, cushions, pillows, blankets, mattresses, and stuffed toys can’t be sanitized.
Conclusion
Flooded water can be stressful to handle. However, with the proper instructions and steps, you can easily clean it up. You can clean your flooded basement with the above-mentioned steps and methods. Moreover, try your best to ensure all flood safety measures.
Also, you should regularly check for leaks and cracks during monsoons or heavy rainfall. In case your property is located in a region that is prone to flooding, you should have the proper equipment to pump water out of the basement.
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