A dry basement is essential for safe home living. Moisture in the basement is a breeding ground for parasites and mold. Sometimes moisture comes from leaks, but other times, it’s because of flooding. That’s why homeowners look for wet basement solutions to avoid these problems. Basement water problems are not a problem for rainy water seasons but an all-year-round problem.

Homeowners need weatherproof seamless concrete to ensure the basement is dry even in rainy seasons. Even minor leaks can worsen over time and cause major problems. Contractors can consider digging out the foundation to waterproof and correct any issues before finishing. Basement waterproofing is a proactive solution for solving basement water problems before they happen.

That means you don’t need to wait until you notice strong odors or mold to look for basement baseboard waterproofing services. The best strategy is to solve the problem early when everything is dry. Before hiring a contractor, ask them for proof of experience and expertise, for instance, basement waterproofing before and after photos. Discover other things you should know about basement waterproofing in this article.

While basement flood damage is an all-too-common occurrence, the good news is that there are ways to prepare for this kind of disaster. If you find yourself in a situation where your basement has flooded unexpectedly, you might not have a clue about the first thing you need to do to resolve the issue. Calling a water restoration service and an emergency carpet water extraction service can be a good first step. After that, addressing important questions like “is a water main break covered by insurance?” will be necessary as you figure out how to finance these repairs. When you speak with the professionals over the phone, you can request a water damage estimate sample and a water mitigation invoice sample, so you can plan for how much you’ll need to budget.

Although this can be one of the most frustrating and overwhelming problems for homeowners, you’re far from the first homeowner who’s ever experienced this issue. Since you’re not alone, there are plenty of tried-and-true tips and guidelines for taking care of basement flooding. To make this process even less of a headache, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about handling basement flooding safely and effectively.

You’re coming home from a long trip. You’ve had your proverbial breather away from the drudgery of the work week and are feeling refreshed in more ways than one. After opening the door and entering your home you notice something smells…off. You fear you left something on the counter. Perhaps a mouse died or there’s been mold build-up where you least expected it. After a little digging you head downstairs and realize your basement has flooded. This is a tale far too many American homeowners are familiar with, all the worse because of how easily it can be avoided with a little preparation.

Insurance

Basement waterproofing will keep you from being yet another cautionary tale.

Did you know flood damage is one of the most common homeowner insurance claims? There’s no reason to think your home is immune from this devastating incident, most of all if you live in an area with a strong cold season or heavy precipitation. Of all homes with basements it’s estimated over 95% will experience some form of water damage. This can be as minor as a leak that won’t stop dripping to something as major as the entire area being flooded with multiple feet of water. Not only this is frustrating to clean up…it’s expensive.

According to Water Damage Defense, in a day, around 14,000 people in the U.S are affected by water damage. As a homeowner, it is essential to prepare for water emergencies by getting home insurance coverage. Even though water main break insurance coverage will only cover damage within the home, flood insurance, fortunately, covers damage from a broken water main and floods.

Insurance companies have a water damage exclusion clause that excludes risks like earthquakes, landslides, nuclear hazards, war, and government action. When signing an insurance contract, always pay attention to these clauses and seek further guidance. You don’t want to discover that the property loss from water damage isn’t covered when it’s too late.

Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars can be lost after a single flooding. You can lose your furniture, priceless belongings and see the foundation of your home warped from exposure. Mold is another hazardous element that erupts from water damage, even minor leaks, and should be taken seriously to avoid harming you and your family. The EPA (short for Environmental Protection Agency) has estimated 100% of all types of mold having the potential to cause serious health effects. Just like water damage, it can range from minor irritation to far more severe consequences.

People with breathing difficulties (such as asthma) or sensitive constitutions can find themselves regularly getting sick from exposure to mold. The Mayo Clinic has estimated a stunning 90% of all chronic sinus infections being attributed to mold. These mimic a cold and include symptoms of stuffiness, headaches, fatigue, chest pain and nausea. When it comes to the worst case scenario? Prolonged exposure to mold can kill. Don’t take chances when it comes to your home’s safety and consider installing a crawl space vapor barrier to keep your basement from flooding.

Crawlspaces

Over 27 million homes in the United States have crawlspaces. Even if you’re sure your crawl space vapor barrier is up to snuff, double-checking will ensure you won’t have to start off 2018 by filing an insurance claim for flood damage. Wall-vented crawl spaces, unfortunately, aren’t able to maintain a relative humidity below the 70% threshold. This leaves them in a much worse position to fend off condensation and the eventual onset of mold growth. Crawl space moisture removal may be your end result if you don’t look into a more updated crawl space vapor barrier designed to encourage air flow.

These tips will make sure your crawl spaces won’t end up yet another project for mold removal or sump pump installation. Your plants should be placed at a bare minimum of two feet from the foundation as well as low enough in the soil so water isn’t pushed toward your home. Around 20% of new homes are still built over crawl spaces, putting them in a bad position to do their jobs. If you still find a leak it’s suggested you clean and dry up your home as thoroughly as possible. The quicker the better, as mold doesn’t take very long at all to start forming and can start showing up in a day or two.

Rethinking your crawl space vapor barrier? You’re already off to a great start this year.

Garage

Whether you live in a flood zone, downhill, or near a coastline, your garage is also one of the areas that take the biggest blow. Dealing with a water damage garage is a headache because water accumulation will ruin your walls and floor. If you don’t address it sooner, mold and bacteria will build up.

In case of water emergencies, you must call a water damage cleanup service as soon as possible. They will do a whole cleanup, water removal, and emergency carpet water extraction. Continue reading to learn how you can handle water damage in your garage, basement, and other parts of your home.