Many homeowners across the east coast are drying out after the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole swept northward over the last few days. Some areas received several inches of rain in a very short period, Pennsylvania included. That unfortunately spells one thing on the day afterward...
WET or FLOODED BASEMENTS
Ugh! Water intrusion into the basement is a nemesis of all homeowners. Usually not an issue, major storms like the one this week will expose any weakness in a home's grading and drainage. Ways to solve these issues are for another blog topic. But today, we want to share a little piece of advice that we got from the experts at ServPro. ServPro is a damage and restoration service company that can handle big problems in a home such as flooding, fire, and mold remediation.
If you have water in your basement, the most important thing is to get rid of all the moisture quickly - before mold starts to grow. So for a major issue, we do recommend calling a service such as ServPro, they will do the job right, help you with any homeowner's claims you have, and minimize the headaches and losses for you. However, many homeowners tackle themselves a small job where water got into the basement. In most cases, the homeowner will...
Remove and dry off any personal items or furnishings from the affected area - check
Shop vac the floor or carpeting - check
Pull back wet carpeting and padding to allow for air drying - check
Run dehumidifiers and fans - check
Open the windows and doors to allow for air flow - not so fast!
Opening the windows and doors is actually not advisable if you are trying to dry out an area, especially with a dehumidifier. The experts advise to "button up" the area and allow the dehumidifier to take the moisture levels in the air to very low levels. This can't be done if you open up the windows and doors - think of it as trying to air condition your patio or heat your convertible - it can't be done effectively.
Professionals will seal off an area they are trying to dry out with tarps and plastic sheeting and then run a dehumidifier and industrial fan within that area. Fans help with drawing the moisture out of the carpeting and into the air.
So if you are in the unfortunate position of trying to dry out your basement today, hopefully this little tip will help. Maybe it was already intuitive to you, but most homeowners will automatically think to open the doors and windows for "fresh" air.
~Lisa
Contact Scott Loper, Associate Broker, Realtor®, RE/MAX Realty Group at 215-513-1333 for help buying or selling a home in Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield, Souderton, Skippack, Collegeville, North Wales and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County Pennsylvania. To Search for Homes For Sale in Montgomery County Click Here.
Drying Out After The Big Storm - One Important Tip from the Professionals Copyright © 2010, The Scott Loper Team, All rights reserved.
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The Scott Loper Team
Scott Loper - Associate Broker
Lisa Loper - Sales Associate
Gina Wherry - Sales Associate
RE/MAX Realty Group
439 Main Street
Harleysville, PA 19438
Ph: 215-256-1200 x-213
