Water Intrusion – What to know?

Columbus is having another rain storm today. If you have a basement, especially finished basement in your home, please make sure you go down and check that there has been no water intrusion in the house. Here is some precautions you can take to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future:

• Clean your gutter at least twice a year to avoid any blockages
• Check the downspouts to make sure they are all connected and water can flow nicely
• Check the sump pump to make sure it’s plugged in and operational (HOW TO VIDEO BELOW)
• Use a backup sump pump. This will be triggered if the main pump fails. NOW, check this backup sump pump once in a while to make sure the battery is still good or replace it accordingly. A generator is the best alternative solution but it can be pricey.
• Review your insurance policy to make sure you have water intrusion covered in your policy.

If you found water in your basement what should you do next?

• Remove water as soon as possible.
• Call your insurance company immediately. They will assign a contractor to perform an estimate and get the repairs done. This normally includes sucking out the water (with a wet vac), drying out the entire area (with dehumidifiers and fans - can take 24 hours to do so) and replace any drywall and flooring materials if damaged. This needs to be done in a timely manner to avoid any mildew/mold built up.
• If you don’t have this coverage in your insurance, you would need to call a plumber, a water damage specialist and a contractor for drywall/floor. Call us if you need recommendation for any services above.