Immediate Steps to Treating a Flooded Basement and/or Crawl Space
Picture this: your area was recently hit with rain storms so you head down to the crawl space for the first time in a while and you’re met with a floor covered in standing water. Your initial reaction may be to panic, but don’t fret! A flooded crawl space or basement is a nightmare for homeowners. The unfortunate reality for those that live in a flood zone with a poorly designed crawl space is that it’s not a matter of if the home will become flooded—it’s a matter of when.
In the event of a flood, not only do you have to worry about your personal belongings being damaged, but a flooded basement or crawl space can put your home at risk for mold and mildew growth, wood rot, loss in structural integrity, foul odors, negative indoor air quality, and more. Continue reading to learn the immediate steps that you should take as a homeowner and how a professional crawl space company can help.
Cleaning Up the Flood
The first step to cleaning up a flood in the basement or crawl space is to remove the standing water. If there are only a few puddles to get rid of, then a wet-vac should be able to do the trick. With a wet-vac you can suck up the water and remove it outdoors.
If the flooding underneath your home is less than an inch high, you could try sweeping out the flood with a push broom, if possible.
For bigger, wide-spread floods, a pump is needed to remove the floodwaters. For those that are experienced and have a pump, you can place the pump’s suction hose into the flood water and direct the drainage hose outside and away from the home. It’s critical that the water is directed far enough away from the home that it can’t flow back into the basement or crawl space. You may need to periodically reposition the suction hose until all of the standing water is removed.
How to Dry Out a Flooded Basement/Crawl Space
Once all of the standing water is removed, it’s time to thoroughly dry out and clean the affected space. During this step, check everything in the flooded space for dampness and mold or mildew growth. It’s important to remove these items from the home to prevent further growth and promote healthy indoor air quality. If there is mold or mildew growing on the structure of your home, then you need to have a mold and disinfection treatment done.
The next step is to treat the root of the problem while simultaneously drying out the crawl space. Depending on the unique needs of your home, there are a few different options that a crawl space professional may recommend to you.
Effective Basement & Crawl Space Flooding Solutions
When looking at the different options to help prevent basement and crawl space flooding, the most important factor to consider is drainage. A crawl space professional will take a look at the exterior drainage of your home to see if everything is properly working. Gutters, gutter downspouts, the grade of land around your home, and more could be the reason for water entering your basement or crawl space.
When it comes to drainage systems indoors, a sump pump could be considered—especially in flood prone areas. These devices provide effective drainage when you’re not able to completely stop moisture from entering the home. These devices are installed in the lowest point of the home so that they can efficiently pump out the water that is lead to it. However, while a sump pump is efficient at removing water that enters the home, the only way to ensure that water doesn’t enter the crawl space is through encapsulation.
Using Flood Vents
Flood vents are one way to prevent a basement or crawl space flood. A flood vent is a special type of opening in the wall between the crawl space and the outdoors. They’re designed to let water pass through the space freely so that it doesn’t become trapped and create pressure that can damage your walls and foundation.
At Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement, we are proud to offer FEMA Approved Smart Vents as an option to our customers. Smart Vents act to relieve thermostatic pressure in the event of a flood. When the water rises, the vents shift to the open position to allow the passive flow of floodwaters to avoid pressure from building up, compromising your foundation.
These vents are FEMA Approved and can greatly reduce your flood insurance so they are a great investment for your future in your home. These vents are made to be installed into garages, raised homes, crawl spaces, and more.
Working with Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement
Water should never be “accepted” in the basement or crawl space environment. Constant exposure to standing water breeds bacteria, increases your relative humidity, and saturates your wood with water over time leading to mold growth. This in turn also weakens your wood structure and attracts termites, pests, and rodents due to the moist environment.
Regardless of the conditions within the crawl space, we can help! Our systems are designed with the challenges of living here on the Jersey Shore in mind. Prior to any action being taken, we offer a comprehensive crawl space evaluation to monitor the moisture conditions within your crawl space, all the while ensuring that your home is not at risk for common issues such as poor drainage.
We perform this evaluation 3 times throughout the year to stay in front of seasonal issues, monitor the moisture conditions, and service your vents to ensure proper ventilation. With over 20 years of dedicated service for our fellow neighbors here on the shore, trust your crawl space with the Jersey Shore’s Crawlspace pros!
Complete the form below and one of our representatives will be in contact with you shortly to schedule your evaluation.