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Water Damage Checklist

A flooded basement can ruin your day. Sincerely Yours in Columbia, SC can clean up the water damage and get your day back to normal.

Whether it may be frozen pipes from a cold front or the water from the warmer weather that spring brings, you can prevent having a flooded basement. Sincerely Yours wants to help you prevent a flooded basement. To start protecting your basement from water, you need to start outside of the home. Your home has been designed to protect it from water getting into the structure of the basement by having features that will manage the water and channel it away from your property. This already is making the risk of a basement flood low, but these features need to be checked, so they can function properly.

Areas That Need to Be Checked Outside

• You need to check your gutters and make sure they don?t have any debris that would cause them to get blocked while trying to move the water along.
• The downspouts need to extend six feet away from the property.
• The French drains, ditches, and culverts also need to be checked.
• Check your sprinklers and irrigation systems ? make sure that they are not damaging any of the exterior walls and the foundation of your home. Also, turn off your sprinkler system and drain the outside faucets before winter hits to protect you from having frozen pipes.

After you have checked and made sure that everything outside is functioning properly, then you can go ahead and move on to the inside of your home. Don?t think that the elements outside are the only thing that can cause your basement to flood. Water damage is caused by a variety of reasons, including plumbing leaks, burst or broken pipes or hoses, washing machine overflow, a clogged toilet, moisture behind walls, a leaking roof, or foundation cracks.

Areas That Need to Be Checked Inside

• If you protect your plumbing from cold weather, then you can prevent frozen pipes.
• If your sump pump is older than 19 years, it?s time to replace it.
• Test your sump pumps often, so that you know they are working properly.
• Check your basement drainage features and ensure that they are clear.
• Inspect your showers and tubs.
• Shut off water supply while you are not home, including washing machines and dishwashers.
• Know the location of the main water shut off valve. If you know where this is at, it can save you time and money in the long run.
• If you install a pressure release valve in your plumbing system, you can control the amount of pressure used and this will also help protect against freezing pipes and the pipes bursting.
• Check all the pipes in your home closely for cracks and leaks; if they are cracked or leaking, repair them immediately.

If you do happen to get a flooded basement and water damage, call Sincerely Yours in Columbia, SC to help get it all cleaned up safely and sanitary. If you don?t call right away, the water damage will cause mold and make the cleanup a longer process. If water is not removed by the trained professionals at Sincerely Yours, the water will then get trapped inside the drywall, wood, and carpet fibers of the home causing mold to grow and release spores.

The water could be contaminated, causing deadly substances to enter your home and give someone severe health risks. The deadly substances can be animal feces, chemicals, or parasites. This contaminated water spreads bacteria, viruses, and fungi from floods or sewages. It can leave a person severely ill, even by a momentary skin contact causing hepatitis and/or salmonella.

For complete water damage restoration, contact certified professionals like Sincerely Yours.