How To Dry Out My Basement As Fast As Possible?
How To Dry Out Basement Fast
By: Brothers Equipment And Supply
Moisture can creep up anywhere and basements can be that part of the house where a lot of damage and leakage goes unnoticed.
Whenever you have to deal with water, remember that you need to be careful and thorough. We can understand how you may panic at the beginning, but it is crucial to deal with the issue immediately.
Below we highlight a procedure that can help you dry out your basement fast.
Let’s get into it.
Why Is Your Basement Wet?
First things first, you need to understand why your basement is wet.
Here are a few common reasons why your basement is humid and damp:
Condensation: It is important to know the reason why your basement is wet. As soon as you get to the source, you will know how to get rid of it.
Many reasons can contribute to the dampness in the basement. However, if we consider all things, you should also keep in mind that your basement might be damp naturally.
The natural dampness comes due to condensation, whenever the moist air meets a cool place. Moisture can condense and form puddles of water in your basement. If this is left untreated, then you will face a water issue soon enough.
Run Off: The second reason why this might be happening is due to wetness around your basement due to rainwater.
Proper drainage is important, and in these instances, you get the opportunity to see how much. The wet basement you have may be due to ineffective water diversion.
Moisture from wet grounds can find its way into the walls and floors of the home without any obstacles.
Sub-Surface Penetration: One of the most frequent reasons why basements flood so much is due to the groundwater level.
This is why most modern houses are built on high water retention capacity ground. The water has no issue finding its way around the home. Think about a water retention capacity around the home such as clay soil.
This is how you can stop the water from going into the walls and your home.
How To Dry Out Basement Fast
If you want to avoid the cost of thousands of dollars in repairs, then you need to take care of the water issue as soon as it comes up.
The more it stays unresolved, the bigger and more expensive the damage will be. Here is a step-by-step plan that you can use to help you dry out your basement.
Step 1: Check For Dangers
Before you touch anything, the first thing you need to do is check if there are any dangers around.
Is your basement a safe place to work? Check for any electrical connections and make sure there are no wires exposed.
Or, you can switch off the power to the home for a period while you are in the basement.
Step 2: Find The Source
Although this can take up a lot of your time, it is a crucial step that you look into the basement and find the source of the water leak.
Sources, as we previously stated, can vary, so take your time and be thorough. You can make the job a little bit easier for you if you try to identify the source by the colour of the water:
- If the water is clean and colourless, then you are looking at a leak from a bathtub, water supply line, or overflowing sink.
- If the water is greyish in colour, then it might come from a washing machine or a dishwasher.
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- If the water is smelly and blackish in colour, then the source is connected to the toilet moisture backflow or chemical spillage. In this case, only a professional should handle the situation.
Step 3: Cut Off The Source
Stop the water from its source (either yourself or have a professional do it) and make sure that you insulate the water pipes and the wall.
This is what can save you from dealing with a similar issue in the future.
Step 4: Dry The Water
This is your primary goal, drying out the water from your basement is an important step. You need to do this as soon as possible.
Make sure that you do this within the first 24-48 hours of the damage so you can prevent mildew and mould.
You can buy axial fans, air scrubbers, portable dehumidifiers, and towels just to name a few water damage restoration tools that’ll help you dry your basement.
Step 5: Take Out All Your Belongings
Your basement might be filled with personal objects and furniture so it is important to remove them before you start working on water damage restoration.
This means that you need to find a way to get them out of the wet area as soon as possible.
Get some help from your friends and family and make sure you take care of all the affected things, and take them out to dry.
Step 6: Start Cleaning
This step might not take that much of your time, but you need to be as precise and thorough as possible. Clean your walls and floors and do it with warm soapy water.
You can even make a mixture of bleach and pine oil to clean it out and use a deodorant in every corner of the basement to mask the smell.
At this stage, you need to make sure that your basement is properly ventilated too. Make sure there is always a circulation of air.
Step 7: Dry The Basement
As soon as you are done with the cleaning bit, find as much power as you can to dry the basement out immediately. It is the only way to prevent any trapped moisture from staying on the floor or walls. If this is not properly taken care of, then you might be dealing with a lot more than just mould next time. An air dehumidifier is a perfect choice in this case. The more power you have, the better!
Step 8: Check For Mould And Disinfect
Now it’s time to check for mould, especially, in all the hidden spots in your basement. Make sure you properly disinfect the entire affected area and use antimicrobial chemicals to do it. If there is anything from your belongings that has been affected so much there is no point in cleaning it out, then throw it out!
How To Maintain A Dry Basement
Now you know all the important steps you should take to dry a basement out. Keep this in mind for future reference, and in the meantime, we are providing you with some tips on how to keep your basement dry.
Remove All Excess Humidity
Try to eliminate the excess humid air in your basement, and seal up your leakage during your showers by putting some foil tape and a vent fan in your basement. Get a dehumidifier to do the rest.
Insulate The Pipes With Foam
The surface of cold pipes can create damage, you can limit this by insulating the pipes.
Waterproof And Insulate Your Wall Too
One of the most frequent sources of water damage is water from outside, so this is why you need to focus on your walls.
Apply paint directly on the concrete or masonry wall.
Keep Water Away From The Home
The base of the home is at the highest risk of getting in touch with water, so you can keep water away from the home with proper drainage.
Add A Drainage System
Last but not least, adding a drainage system can help you sleep soundly at night, knowing that your house is safe from any water damage.
If you have any questions about our article, “How to dry out my basement as fast as possible?” or need water damage equipment feel free to call us at 1-416-912-2205 or chat with us in near real-time on social media.