Top 5 Dangers of Basement Flooding

Basement flooding is dangerous because it can cause severe water damage to your property. Your properties and belongings will become soaked and destroyed.

Your foundation can also suffer damages from a flooded basement because of the development of cracks brought about by penetration of water through the floor or walls. These damages can seriously compromise the structural integrity of your home. It can also cause wood beams and supports to rot, which can eventually lead to the collapse of your home.

To prevent this, you should inspect the exterior foundation and our basement walls and floors. Use epoxy to fill any foundation cracks or call a mason to do it for you.

Slow-moving, standing water promotes mold and bacterial growth. They grow not only in the basement but also in other rooms. They can be harmful to your family’s health.

Mold can cause health problems like eye irritation, respiratory problems, and skin rashes. These can further progress into serious health problems like memory loss and brain damage over a long time.

Mildew and fungus, which grow in damp and wet places, are also known to cause respiratory problems.

A flooded basement is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. These bacteria colonies like to grow on damp, organic matter such as wooden walls or floors. Once they become airborne, they cause different infections.

In time, the water can become stagnant and dirty, which might lead to water-borne diseases.

Dust mites are tiny microscopic relatives of spiders that thrive well in damp and wet places. These small creatures are not parasites. They do not bite, sting, or burrow into your body. The harmful allergen they create comes from their fecal pellets and body fragments.

Chronic, ongoing exposure to dust mites can dramatically impact your health. It can lead to running nose, watery eyes, sneezing, persistent cough, and severe asthma attack.

Basement flooding can also attract other pests such as mice, spiders, ants, cockroaches, and snakes.

Basement flooding is dangerous because it can cause electric shock, which can cause severe injury or death in some cases. The electric appliances in the basement can electrify the flooded water, even without breaking the circuit. This makes it a potential death trap.

If the water in your basement has risen above the electrical outlets, baseboard heaters, electrical panels, and heaters, do not enter the basement until the power is turned off.

Your electrical system and applications are also likely to be damaged and destroyed. Some fixtures, such as fans, circuits, heaters, and boilers, may need replacement, which will be costly on your end.