Floods: What to Do?
KINETIC BASEMENT’S EMERGENCY PLAN OF ACTION
- Stop the water from coming in
- Set up a temporary Water drainage system
- Demolition if necessary
- Dry the area as quickly as possible
- Set Up Dehumidfication
Step 1: Determine the Source:
First and foremost, the source of the water needs to be pinpointed. Determining the source is sometimes obvious and other times requires a specialist. There are numerous causes, such as a failed pump or pump line. It can also be a more complex problem, like water coming in one area then traveling through the wall or under the slab causing entry into the basement. Determining the cause promptly is key. Water problems do not correct themselves and need immediate attention to prevent long term damage to the home. Also in the event the water issue is not obvious to the naked eye and a specialist is needed, it is best to have the basement looked at immediately to determine the cause. It is much easier and cost effective to act quickly.
Step 2: Temporary Water System:
This may be as minor as running gutter lines on top of the ground until you can bury them properly , or as complex as cutting a hole in the concrete floor to place a temporary sump pump . Putting some type of temporary system in place is what we at Kinetic provide at no charge during the estimate procedure if needed, provided that further work is contracted and set in motion to be done. No home should be left with standing water. Neglecting the water results in permanent damage, which increases the need for demolition and higher repair costs. This is the first step in decreasing the incidence of mold.
Step 3: Demolition:
Your best defense against mold is immediate removal of anything organic (ex. Carpets, wood, sheetrock, wood flooring, etc) Unless demolition of wet areas is done within one day, mold and dangers will begin to occur. By the fourth day, the mold problem and air quality will become severe in the home due to Stack Effect. Kinetic’s demolition turnaround time is generally 1 to 2 days in most homes. We remove all debris, reattach all electrical safely and leave your basement clean floor to ceiling. Simply removing debris and water puts you and your home on the right path to better health in a few short days.
Step 4: Dehumidification:
The last step of our emergency plan of action is dehumidifying the damp areas. Dehumidifiers are available to rent or for purchase. The sole purpose of these units are to dry out the basement area as quickly as possible. The use of large 100+ pint units will dry any masonry out and lower humidity to below the 50% danger mark within 24 hours. Within 3 days it usually dries out things like the wood studs in the wall that may have been left during the demolition. We also spray foam for drafts and check for drafty windows. If demolition was not done to the entire basement, we cut out the bottom of interior sheetrock or paneling to allow dehumidification behind the walls. Our rentals are done in 3 week intervals to be sure of our success. However, all basements should be kept at 50% or lower humidity all the time. This is very important for good health and to dormant any mold present. Mold can affect anyone, not just those with allergies, it pollutes the air we breathe causing a number of health issues. This is why we recommend dehumidification systems for every home.
We rent dehumidifiers that are brand new and take rental price off unit if purchased later.