One of the most heartbreaking tasks in every home is thinking of a quick solution when for basement drying when it unexpectedly floods. In fact, mold won’t be the only thing you would have to deal with; the smell of damp moisture will also be a part of what you worry about.
I know this sucks, and every apartment owner dreads it in this instance. Lol, you take a walk downstairs, then try to remove some of your load from where you don’t often visit in your home, then you hear that squishy sound that tells you, ouch! “there is water there.”
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How to dry out a basement fast?
Because of their frequent associations with gloom and creepiness, basements are frequently unpleasant parts of the house. This shouldn’t actually be your meaning of a basement. Even if other parts are free of moisture, basements tend to be that part of the house mostly affected by water damage and leakage.
So what should you do when the it is messed up with water, Panic of course shouldn’t be the first thing, you would need a strategic plan on how to dry out a basement fast. It’s actually very easy to dry out your basement very fast with the procedures I illustrated.
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This is why your basement is not dry
Condensation:
Understanding the cause of your basement’s moisture is essential to drying it out completely. You have a damp basement for several reasons, but you should have it at the back of your mind that the basement can be naturally damp.
Why the natural dampness? I know you would ask. This is often due to the effect of condensation. Moisture condenses when moist air meets cool places such as foundation walls and uninsulated water pipes, forming puddles of water. If left unchecked, this can lead to small pools of water in the basement.
Run off:
Wet basements can occur when rainwater is not directed via the appropriate route due to improper drainage or a clogged gutter. This is a result of runoff or the inefficient diversion of water.
How did this occur? Rainwater that was not correctly run would find its way into the foundation of your house, creating wet ground. Moisture from the damp ground then forced its way into the floors and walls of your home via hydrostatic pressure.
Sub surface Penetration:
The most frequent cause of basement floods is the groundwater level. The construction of modern homes frequently uses soil with a high capacity to retain water. Hydrostatic pressure pushes groundwater trapped at the soil level into open places near the house.
How to speedily dry out a basement fast?
A wet basement, if not correctly and instantly remediated, can cost you thousands of damages. Why? The longer water is allowed to stay, the more damage is caused for homeowners. Yes, it may be a real-time challenge drying it speedily, but if you follow the proper steps, you can quickly get a dry basement.
In this section of the article, I will be discussing step by step how you can dry out your basement fast.
No matter what the causes might be, I got a plan for you. Fast drying of a basement simply depends on
- the amount of water and
- the size of your basement.
It is very important to take note of the factors listed above for effectiveness and speed. Therefore, in this guide below, I will use an averagely sized basement as a prototype. Here is what you need to do to dry out your basement.
Step 1: Safety first, Check for dangers (10 minutes)
Yes, you heard me right! Before touching anything, make sure that the basement is safe to work in. How?
Check for the electrical connections and be sure that exposed wires are not exposed. In most cases, I encourage people to always Switch off power to the apartment for the period of cleaning up the basement.
Step 2: Identify the source (app. 20 minutes)
This can take a little bit longer but it will go a long way with helping you to figure out the problem in the future. Sources of water in the basement just like we stated earlier could vary. I would give you a clue on how to identify quickly the source of water.
By their color, you shall know them. How?
A: If the water is clean and colorless, it could be a bathtub, overflowing sink or even a broken water supply line.
B: If it is greyish in color, it could be from the dishwater run off, or the washing machine run off.
C: If the water is blackish in color or even smelling, this are often linked to the toilet soak away moisture backflow, chemical spillage etc. This kind of water from this sources may require the help of a professional to dry it up entirely.
Step 3: Stop the source (in less than 30 minutes)
Sources from category A and B can just be shut down by turning off the main water valve to the entire apartment. For sources from category C, you might need to hire a professional for effectiveness.
you may need to insulate the water pipes and the wall. in cold climate, insulation of the wall saves you a great deal of cost because it helps generate heat inside.
The material for insulation isn’t expensive at all and it’s easy to cut with scissors
Step 4: Dry out the water (40 minutes)
Main work actually circles around this because this is our primary goal. You will need to remove the water as soon as you can.
In this step, to be able to remove all the water without leaving any behind, you should work quickly. Inability to eradicate all the water in 24-48hrs might lead to growing of mold and mildew.
You can remove the water with the aid of portable sump pump, towel, or/and a vacuum cleaner.
Step 5: Remove all your belongings (less than 20 minutes)
Just after removing all the water, you need to find a way of getting your stuffs out of the place.
Why? this will help you to know those spaces that are still having water in the basement. Besides you would be able to find out which of your properties was messed up by the water such as soaked carpet and other things that are hidden yet soaked.
Since getting rid of water as soon as possible is the goal, you might want to request the help of friends or family to get your belongings out depending on the quantity of your stuffs.
Step 6: Clean up the basement (30 minutes)
Warm soapy water has a long way to go when it comes to effective cleansing of walls and floor. Mix a spray of pine oil and bleach, in order to brighten up the basement. About the smell, put an excellent deodorant at every corner of the basement.
At this stage, make sure to highly ventilate the whole basement, you could adopt the help of a fan to make sure fresh air never stops moving
Step 7: Dry out the basement (15 minutes or so)
As soon as you clean up the basement, find a way of drying it up as fast as you can. It is essential to avoid moisture buildup in the basement’s walls and floors. Without regular maintenance, water absorption might result in the growth of mold, necessitating a restart in the solution process.
To get a faster result from drying, you could use a different range of air movers depending on the size of your basement. Then after moving the air, start your air dehumidifier for basement to dry out any residue moisture.
Step 8: Look for mold and start disinfection (10 minutes)
You know we said earlier that it only takes mold less than 24hrs to grow, so it would be wise of you to make sure you inspect the whole basement for any form of potential molding. The same applies to your properties outside, do well to check for any kind of mold around them and then disinfect.
For better and quick cleaning, you can make use of antimicrobial chemicals e.g. pine oil cleaner. If any of your properties is eaten up by mold to extent that couldn’t be disinfect, do well to throw it away. Why? It is better safe than having to deal with mold in the nearest future.
Essential tips on how to have a dry basement
Now that you know how to dried out your basement, it is more important to understand how to avoid such moisture in the nearest future. Listed below are some moist proofing tips to prevent damp basement in the rainy and humid times
Tip 1: Get rid of excess humidity
Always find a way of eliminating excess humid air in the basement. Most of the unwanted moist air are often from the leaky dryer and the leakage during shower. You can prevent this by sealing up the leaky dryer with foil tape and putting a vent fan at your basement. If you notice some further condensation, you can try to employ the help of a dehumidifier.
Tip 2: Insulate cold pipes with foam
Condensation can also come from the surface of the pipe material, since water are irresistible, they can find their way out of materials easily. You can limit this by insulating with inexpensive foams.
Tip 3: Insulate and waterproof the wall
Wall is the most frequent sources of water from outside leading to condensation but you can prevent this by insulating the wall with Styrofoam. Paint can also help in waterproofing the wall, and the paint will only be effective in avoiding wall leakage of water by applying the paint directly on the concrete or masonry wall
Tip 4: Keep water away from Foundation
This involves you checking your downspouts and gutters for adequate drainage of water away from the foundation of your house. You should also modify the channels of gutters in such a way that it goes 4ft away from the foundational ground.
Tip 5: Install a drainage system:
This is the most complex and expensive of the tasks. Although it is what you can do yourself, it is advisable to employ the service of a professional for a perfect job. But in summary, it involves the planting of a drainage tubing inside the basement floor which is then connected to a sump pump in such a way that excess water is passed out easily.
Bottom line
- Basement is a very important part of your home which you need to take care very well.
- There are different ways by which water can enter your basement.
- You should try to dry out your basement as soon as you can to avoid harm to your health.
- Fast drying out depends on the size of your basement and the amount of water there.
- After drying up your basement, it is advisable to prevent such in the future.
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