Your Basement has Flooded - What to do Next

How To Recover From A Flooded Basement

For The Associated Press

4/26/2007 - Flooded basement?

Keep your head, even if your feet are under water. If you act sensibly, your flooded basement can be cleaned up, dried out and be ready for occupancy sooner than you think.

But bear in mind that while there are things you need to do immediately, drying out a basement properly will take time and patience. If you rush the job, you risk much bigger headaches.

Here’s your disaster repair plan:

...Drying things out too fast can cause them to crack and split. Your best bet is to rent a large dehumidifier to remove excess moisture.

Going slowly will also help prevent mildew. The worst thing that you can do is turn up the heat or use space heaters to dry the area. Doing so can create the perfect environment for mold and mildew to propagate.

¯ Often, a water heater, furnace, clothes washer, and dryer can be cleaned, repaired and restored to working condition. Some ducting, controllers or other mechanical components may require replacement. It is wise to consult with a heating contractor, plumber, and/or appliance repair person to make this determination...