Precautions To Take During Basement Flood Cleanup

By Author: Leo Nov
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American homeowners have come up with countless creative ways to use their basement. For some, the basement is a lounge, with entertainment systems, pool tables, and couches where they can relax. For others, it is a workplace where they can do their hobbies, such as crafting or working with computers. For a large majority of homeowners, however, the basement is storage area. Basements can typically store boxes of personal belongings, laundry machines, old appliances and even heating and electrical controls.

This is why flood is oftentimes a big problem for homeowners. Water naturally flows to lower levels of land, such as the basement. A wet basement can be a very dangerous event, because of the various electrical and heating controls in it. Basement flood cleanup has to be done with extreme caution, whether for homeowners or professional restoration companies. When working with a restoration company you must inform them of what controls and items are in your basement.

The presence of circuit boxes in the basement, for example, can cause explosions, electrocution and even fire during a flood. It is imperative that ...
... the electrical supply to your house be turned off right away, before any kind of flood cleanup takes place. You can do this by turning off the central switches of your house, or calling the electric company to turn it off remotely.

Furnaces and heating vents, when wet, can also cause fire. When entering a basement for the first time, try to get a sense of the temperature and humidity of the air. Never enter when it is unusually hot or has a strange, smoky odor.

Some other homeowners keep dangerous chemicals in their basements and not even know it. This can be the detergents, old perfumes, pesticides and old paints that you may have kept there for a very long time. To help your basement flood cleanup company, come up with a detailed list of items located in the basement. This can help them prepare the resources needed to carry out the cleanup. Possible interaction with dangerous chemicals might need special tools such as gas masks and gloves.

Cleaning up a basement doesn't have to be dangerous as long as you take the necessary precautions and never act when in doubt.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about basement flood cleanup and water removal, visit RestorationSOS.com