Drying out a wet basement

A wet basement can be a serious problem for you and your possessions. The only thing you can do in this situation is to dry out the basement and then look for the cause that led to this problem.

The depth of the water

You can’t start drying the basement as long as there is water.

If you don’t already have a pump, rent or buy one and get all the water out of there. You have to do this only if there is a lot of water because you may be lucky and need only a mop and squeegee

Getting rid of damaged items

Water may have already made some damages so if you have a carpeted basement, remove it all. Unfortunately, there are small chances to save it.

In case of a wooden floor with an underlay, everything must be taken out. The wood can be kept somewhere to dry but the underlay must be thrown out for good.

If you have paneling in the basement, it needs to be removed because of the contact with the water that will attract mold and mildew. There’s no use in trying to save something because later it will lead to mold for sure.

All the furniture and clothes that were in the basement need to be taken out and washed. Then you can dry them in a tumble dryer or in the sun.

How to dry the basement

After you have pumped all the water out, it still won’t be enough. A dehumidifier will be required for a few days until the basement is fully dried out. Until this happens, is useless to start doing repairs. If your basement has only a wood floor, you can look for signs of buckling and replace only the planks that really need this.

How to check the basement

If the basement is completely dry this doesn’t mean that you won’t have troubles anymore. After a week has passed, inspect it carefully to see if there are any signs of mold and mildew. If you do find some, replace that part because you have no other choice.

Finding the source of the leak

Even if it’s the last step, you need to make this and find the source to know how to fix the problem once and for all. If you think you are not up to it, hire a professional to help you. After the cause has been established, you can start fixing your basement.

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