What to Do When Melting Snow Causes Basement Water Damage
As winter turns into spring at your home or business in the northwest U.S., you may run into a major problem. Snow will begin to melt, and as it does, there’s an inherent risk of water damage impacting your basement. Because as harmless as it may seem when frozen outside your property, snow melting quickly can produce significant amounts of water, saturating the soil around your home. And when the ground can’t absorb the moisture fast enough, water may seep into your basement. With basements sitting below ground level, they’re particularly vulnerable to water intrusion when snow melts. So, what do you do when melting snow causes basement water damage? Let the experts at Environment Control Restoration provide you with a thorough explanation.
Understanding How Snowmelt Can Cause Basement Water Damage
Before the time comes for you to address the water damage in your basement that was created by snowmelt, it’s important to understand how this problem comes about. When temperatures rise quickly after snowfall or rain falls on sitting snow, the melting process can be accelerated. When that happens, the influx of water can overwhelm the ground’s ability to absorb moisture, which leads to water pooling around your home’s foundation. As a result, water can intrude upon your basement and cause damage both to the structure of your property and to your belongings.
Not to mention, there’s the risk of mold growth occurring soon after the space is exposed to moisture. With both the potential damage and likelihood of mold growth in mind, knowing how to address your basement’s water intrusion is essential.
What to Do First When Melted Snow Causes Water Damage in Your Basement
The first order of business when water damage has affected your basement, if possible, is to stop the water at its source. Checking your gutters and downspouts for ice buildup, debris, or clogs of any kind is a good start, as any of those issues can keep melting snow from draining properly. Overflowing gutters can lead to water pooling around the base of your property, which can then create a higher risk of water damage in your basement.
Large amounts of snow stacked up against your home can be problematic, too, which is why it’s always better to move it farther from your property so that it can melt away without getting into your basement. Essentially, whatever you can do to put a stop to water intrusion is a great place to start as you work against basement water damage.
The Importance of Removing Standing Water From Your Basement ASAP
Not only is it important to stop water intrusion at its source, but you should also act fast to ensure that any standing water inside your basement is removed as quickly as possible. Standing water can quickly lead to the development of mold and mildew, which can cause even further problems both for your property and the health of you and anyone inside of it. Small amounts of water can usually be removed efficiently with a wet/dry vacuum, but larger amounts of water could require a sump pump or professional attention.
All the while, taking safety precautions is a must. When water levels are high, turning off electricity in the surrounding areas is wise. Be sure to avoid using any electrical devices in the standing water unless you are absolutely certain it’s safe to do so. And once you’ve worked to remove the pooled water, the next step is to begin drying the space right away with fans, dehumidifiers, and proper ventilation systems. That way, you’re eliminating any excess moisture that can have a lingering impact on your basement.
Assess the Water Damage in Your Basement
Once you’ve removed standing water from your basement and properly dried the space, you can begin to assess the damage more closely. You’ll want to make sure your basement’s walls, flooring, and insulation are thoroughly examined to see whether they absorbed any moisture. After all, hidden moisture can have a lasting impact on both your basement space as well as your health.
From there, check on any belongings you store in your property’s basement. Cardboard boxes, paper goods, fabric, and furniture can certainly be damaged by water exposure, so you’ll want to remove any of those items and evaluate whether they can be salvaged. Any significant or unsalvageable damage should be documented so that you have a basis to work with for any insurance claims you may be looking to file.
A Team You Can Trust to Help When Your Basement Suffers From Water Damage
Clearly, there’s a lot to work through if recent snowmelt has caused water damage within your basement. The good news is that you don’t have to go about the recovery process as your own. Rather, you can turn to the experts at Environment Control Restoration for help. We have a variety of services to offer that are aimed at resolving water damage, so whether you turn to us for water mitigation, storm water extraction, or mold remediation services in the aftermath of a water damage-related issue, we’ll have you covered. You can trust our team to not only address the water damage at hand, but also ensure that we’re taking the necessary steps to help make sure that your basement is safe from future risks of flooding and water damage.
If you’re ready to partner with the professionals at Environment Control Restoration for work in your basement, we’d love for you to reach out today and to get a quote.