How to Dry Out a Flooded Basement
Whether you are dealing with light seepage or a foot of water, there are few things more disheartening than a flooded basement. Drying out a flooded basement isn't hard--it is just time consuming. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden hose
- Squeegee
- Mop
- Bucket
- Disinfectant
- Rubber gloves
- Fans
- Dehumidifier
Instructions
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Hose down the basement floor once most of the water has receded. This will rid the floor of any dirt that may have backed up the sewer (for those who do not have overhead sewers.) Direct the water towards the floor drain.
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Mop the floor with a disinfectant if you have had a sewer backup. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and also shoes to avoid any contact with the sewage.
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Squeegee the floor, directing the water towards the drain. You may have to do this several times, as sometimes the water will puddle in low spots on the floor.
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Place a couple of fans in the basement to dry up the water. Also, open the windows if you have any to get a cross breeze. This will also help dry up the floor.
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Start your dehumidifier, making sure that you have the hose from the dehumidifier going into the drain. The dehumidifier will take the water out of the air and help to dry up the basement.
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Tips & Warnings
If your basement floods regularly, be sure to store everything off of the basement floor.
Wait for the water to recede before walking into a flooded basement. You do not want to risk getting electrocuted. Do not leave the fans running overnight as they might overheat and catch on fire. You should not leave the fans running if you are leaving the house, due to a possible fire hazard. Concrete floors are very slippery when wet so step carefully.
