What to Do When Your Basement Floods

Every year, residential water damage scenarios affect 14,000 people - even a tiny leak increases the chances of your Green Hills home's water bill by up to 10%. Even though we often associate tornadoes with spring, you should take winter storms just as seriously since they can involve hail and sleet. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so while it's best to be as prepared as possible when disaster strikes, sometimes, the unexpected happens, and you have to know what to do after the fact. Below are some floodproof preventative measures you can take this winter to protect your basement from winter storms and what you should do right after being hit by an unforgiving winter storm.?

What Preventative Measures Can You Take To Flood-Proof Your Green Hills Basement?

• Sealing open areas of your property, also known as dry floodproofing, can effectively keep floodwaters at bay. Weatherstripping around openings across walls prevents floodwaters from entering, and waterproof shields for your doors and windows are instrumental to these structures' ability to resist intense water pressure.?
• Have you considered backflow valves against sewage? After a flood, sewage from sewer lines can infiltrate drain pipes, presenting a health hazard inside your property. If water enters the wrong way, these backflow valves serve as a "band-aid," temporarily blocking drain pipes.?
• While this may seem like a simple housekeeping tip, it should be addressed when floodproofing your basement, and that is routine gutter maintenance! Aside from cleaning debris, you should keep a watchful eye if anything is amiss in your gutters so that it can do its job of removing rainwater away from your home and not into it.?

What Should You Do Immediately After A Winter Storm Floods Your Basement?

• Take pictures of the affected areas for insurance purposes ! It is easier for an adjuster to assess the damage and devise a payment plan accordingly. Additionally, SERVPRO works with your insurance company to manage the claims paperwork to make this ordeal slightly more manageable for you.?
• After any water damage incident, you want to be wary of mold growth since mold works its way through a property fast, oftentimes in as little as 48 hours after a flood . Disposing of any item that could be affected by mold, like certain perishable foods and bedding, is an excellent move after you've documented all of your items for insurance purposes.?
• If you have critical documents you can't afford to lose, try placing them in the freezer! This short-term hack can prevent mold spores from feeding off moisture and speed up the drying process while you're tending to other items in the basement. Please remember that once you've removed all items from the basement, call your local restoration professionals with the know-how and proper equipment to restore your Green Hills home to its pre-loss condition.?

Our technicians at SERVPRO of Belle Meade and West Nashville specialize in water damage cleanup and restoration. Our team has high-tech gear and training and provides emergency service every day of the year, even on holidays. From water inspection on your Green Hills property to the extraction and drying process, we ensure an attention to detail and expertise that you won't find in many restoration companies. Our team has a "restore vs. replace" mentality which guarantees that you won't lose valuable belongings and saves you money during the process. If you need this for water and storm damage restoration and cleanup in Green Hills, contact us at (615) 242-9391. As a BBB-accredited business with an Angie's List Super Service Award, we take our work seriously, so you know you can count on us!

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