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The correct procedures to clean up a flooded basement in Towson Maryland
Hi this is Jeff Cohn with SI Restoration ( www.si-restoration.com ) and we have been in water damage restoration business concentrating on flooded basements for the last 35 years . We have an expertise not only in flooded basement clean up , but also an understanding of the structure and complexities of the homes and buildings in the Towson Maryland area.
The following are the correct procedures to clean up a flooded basement according to the IICRC S500 Guidelines . Please take note that the information mentioned does not represent all IICRC S500 Guidelines .
You will notice many web sites for companies that offer clean-up of flooded basements. But how does one know if these companies are performing the correct procedures not only to clean up the water that has flooded the basement , but preventing mold growth .
Who Is The IICRC ?
The IICRC is the Institute Of Cleaning and Restoration company that certfies and governs the correct procedures for flooded basement clan up .
To start off with, the IICRC highly recommends that safety play an important role in water damage removal in flooded basements .
Towson Maryland homes and older buildings have older materials and items that have been stored from previous generations . No one plans for flooded basements , but when it happens all those “saved” and stored items become water logged .
Before you enter the basement or lower level of the home, let’s check everyone who will be helping .
Safety Check List
- Everyone should be wearing rubber puncture resistant boots and gloves,
- A Tyvek suit is recommended to wear and can purchased at many hardware stores.
- Look out for wires that are lying in the water from entertainment equipment to your iron and ironing board . Even though the appliances maybe off , there is still electricity flowing through the wires if the appliance is till plugged in.
Call an Emergency Service Plumber ASAP
Try to find out what the source of the flooded basement is. It’s important to know whether it came from a sewage back up , outside rain flood , sub pump failure , water heater bust and or a pipe burst .
If you don’t know contact a local Towson Maryland plumber who is available for emergency calls. If you don’t an emergency on call plumber , call me Jeff Cohn with SI Restoration at 410-458-5371 . I have over 100 companies to call.
Your plumber will determine where the source of the flooded basement is and will solve the issue .
Contact A IICRC Certified Flooded Basement Clean Up Company
Next contact a water damage restoration company who has actual flooded basement cleanup experience . I promise that company you call will tell you they are the best even if they are not .
To determine if a company knows how to correctly restore ( clean up ) a water damage in a flooded basement especially with the home complexity in Towson Maryland , is to ask if they are IICRC certified and follow the IICRC S500 Guidelines . When they arrive at your home or building , ask the Foreman for his copy of his or her IICRC certification .
The next step is to contact your insurance company . You don’t need to find your policy number, just look up on your phone and find the claim phone number .
The person on the phone will ask for your address and name and that should be fine.
They will ask you what happened including the day and time it happened .
Now here is an important item to remember. Many of my clients will get on the phone and tell the insurance company that the source of the flooded basement has been happening for months . The insurance company hears this and assumes you knew about it and ignored the issue until today . But the truth was that you just discovered it yesterday . The insurance company gives about a week or so to report a flooded basement issue assuming you didn’t know what to do . After that it looks like you have ignored the problem to make a bigger claim for what ever reason .
Conclusion
If you need more information than what I have written please call Jeff at 410-458-5371 if you are in the Towson Maryland , central Maryland and Washington DC. For more information or to contact for emergency flooded basement clean up service go to www.si-restoration.com or call Jeff at 410-458-5371 .
Other helpful web sites :
https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/flooding
https://www.cdc.gov/floods/safety/reentering-your-flooded-home-safety.h…