How to dry out basement

We had a bad storm last week and water came in the window well because the gutter had a blockage reducing it's flow (inconviently spilling all excess water right next to the window). The carpet got probably

10 - 20 gallons of water spilled on it. From time to time small amounts of water has gotten in (due to gutter backups) so I figured no big deal; a fan usually dries it out in a day or two. This time I tried to soak up water using towels and then ran a fan (and dehumidifier), but it's a week later...The carpet is still a little wet, and the basement smells terrible with the windows shut.

I have to keep the window open and draw air through with a box fan while the air conditioner runs upstairs...no creating super-humid conditions. I'm willing to tear out the old carpet (if necessary). I can rent an industrial dehumidifer (Ebac DB80), but what should we do about the smell in the mean time. If we close everything up, the whole house smells like mildew...if we don't close the house, will it ever dry? Should we get a HEPA air cleaner?

The water appears to have run on the outside of the drywall (this is a finished basement), but not doubt that some water went into the wall. The Red Cross flood manual said wallboard soaked (I would not call it soaked) with clear rain water can be left to dry...I'm comfortable replacing drywall, but I'd rather not if it can be avoided.

Also, should we worry about the couches being a breeding groud for mold/mildew? Are there tests that we

Thanks, Chris

Reply to
Chris Snyder
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We had a much more minor flood when our washer hose broke and flooded kitchen and part of dining room. We are on slab, and about half the dining room rug got soaked (no pad, on tile). Hubby rented a heavy duty wet vac, with a squeegy type floor nozzle which worked miracles getting the water out of the rug and off the floor - the terrazo was dry as the nozzle went over it. We put fans in the dining room and laid stuff under the wet part of the rug to keep it off floor and hasten drying. It was totally dry within 24 hours, and there didn't appear to be any damage to baseboards or drywall because we got it up fast - it got about an inch deep in the kitchen. I realize your carpet and padding may dry much more slowly, but I'd try the vac and ventilate it best you can. Dehumidify as best you can and keep it dry.

Reply to
RamblinOn

If you are smelling mildew, you have mildew, and no amount of dehumidifying is going to kill it. You need to get rid of the mildew.

You *may* be able to pull up the carpet and kill the mildew on the bottom of it with a strong bleach solution. However, this will possibly rot the backing and/or leak through to the face, and then you've ruined the carpet. But I'm betting it's a loss anyway.

Mildew is highly allergenic, and you don't want to submit yourself or your family to this stuff.

Reply to
Betsy

dehumidifying

== We are recovering from a similar problem. We had hard storms and our power went out for 15 hours-- (We *are* going to get a back-up sump ;). Anyway, our basement is drying nicely. I used the extractor on my Bissell carpet shampooer to draw up as much water as possible (the OP might be able to rent an extracter). Have been running the dehumidifier and fans. I lifted the carpet up throughout the basement and propped it with boards so air could get to the pad. It has been several days, the carpets are dry to touch and the odor diminishes more each day. Since the carpet is now dry I am going to use Clorox anti-mildew spray on it. That should do it. == ==

Reply to
gini52

A backup sump won't help you in a heavy storm for 15 hours. You need a generator to power the pump you already have. You should also have a spare pump and check valve handy because those things only die at the worst times.

Reply to
Brad

Did you get the gutters fixed?

Might want to buy a dehumidifier. Though, the open windows and fan are a lot cheaper.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

And even a generator has a limited run time... although I suppose with a gas or LPG you _might_ be able to get a re-supply, depending on the weather/power conditions (Gas stations don't pump when there's no power). You can't keep large amounts of gas on hand or in the generator unless you are careful to keep it fresh.

There's no perfect solution except an external perimeter drain on a lot high enough to allow for drainage even when it's flooding around you.

Bob

Reply to
'nuther Bob

== We have a French drain and the basement is normally quite dry with the drain, sump and dehumidifier. I'm guessing an emergency pump would only have to run a few times a day to keep the basement from flooding. Why wouldn't a Basement Watchdog handle it? I was just prepared to buy one. We are pretty high but on the downside of a mountain. The town put a drainage swale? in above our subdivision when it was being divided but we still have poor drainage in some areas of the yard. I never could figure out why some parts of the yard drain well while other parts puddle for days. But, I do know that when this carpet is due to be replaced (we just installed it), I will have a more "flood-friendly" flooring down there. == ==

Reply to
gini52

A natural gas generator and a stand-by pump (or better yet a hot spare setup slightly higher than the main pump) is very close to a perfect solution. The side benefit is that if you buy a decent sized generator you can use it for other things as well.

Reply to
Brad

Just remember that however bad this storm was, you will probably see at least one that is worse someday.

Reply to
Brad

I have one of these. It produces plenty of gas and can pump hot air at

400cfm. 'It' happens to be my wife and I do love her so..

so would you! look here:

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Reply to
mark Ransly

Ummm, no, our water-powered backup sump pump ran twice an hour, ejecting about 25 gallons at a pop, for over 5 days, during a power outage. Our basement stayed bone dry, while our neighbors who had electrically powered ones ended up with swimming pools.

Not all mechanical devices - especially backup ones - run on electricity. ;-)

Reply to
user

Water powered? How does it work? Where do you buy something like this? I have only seen electric ones.

Crayola

Reply to
Michael Cunningham

Do a Google for "sump ejector". Here is one style:

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Jim

Reply to
Speedy Jim

Water-powered pumps don't work too well for those of us with wells.

Reply to
Brad

P&M

I apologize if this repeats what others ahve said. A wet-dry vac will take out a lot of water, off the floor and even out of the carpet which may make it easier to lift and take outside. (never buy natural fabric for a baasemenent. My foolish neighbors did that.)

My basement had been dry for years, but after one particular flooding it would not dry out. Too early to tell if yours will turn out like that, or not.

I wanted some of that water absorbant stuff that people hang in a can or bag in their closet, or silica gel that comes with cameras when shipped from Japan. Only available in 4 oz or less.

When it wouldnt dry, went to a janitorial supply house, bought 50 (or

100?) pounds of whatever they sell for that purpose. calcium? chlorate? it was under 20 dollars for the whole bag, athough this was 15 years ago. Best if the white rock like things are in a basket above but too hard to do, Took a standard plastic bucket, used perforated decorative masonite (or something simlar to divide the bucket down the middle. Put chemical in one half half way up, water appeared after a day in the other. Was able to pour out the water while holding the rocks in place. Added more rocks as needed. Poured water every day or two. Basement no smell any more, except wehn I'm non the steps. Put bucket on 3rd step. after a couple days, 3rd step smells good. Other steps still bad. How can this be when my nose is 5 feet higher than the bucket? Had to put the bucket on each of 8 steps to make all the smell go away. Totally befuddled but basements has no more smell. Gave rest of bag, 40 pounds?, to gas station.

There are 4 oz bottles of stuff you can add to any paint you use to make it mold resistant. And some white paint comes with something like that alreaay added.

In alt.home.repair on 28 Jul 2003 08:59:09 -0700 snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com (Chris Snyder) posted:

Meirman

If emailing, please let me know whether or not you are posting the same letter.

Change domain to erols.com, if necessary.

Reply to
meirman

who makes the best water powered backup pump

Reply to
mark Ransley

I did clear the gutter...I think I'm going to make gutter inspection a weekly habit (easy to do on a ranch)!

I cut out the carpet and soaked drywall, rented a big dehumidifier and cranked my household one up. A ServPro representative came out to look at the situation. His advice was to take out the section of wallboard that had grown mold (about 1' high x 12' wide), but that it looked under control and would take another week or so to dry out completely.

I may invest in a second dehumidifier because this industrial one costs $30/day and it's only pulled three or four gallons out. I'll let you know how it turns out. When we replace the carpet, what should watch out for? I noted one comment about avoiding natural fibers...can we put a pad down? I'm pretty sure we can keep water out in the future if we pay more attention to the gutters.

Reply to
Chris Snyder

I think you can pick one up at HD for short money that will pull out at least 2 gal/day... I never ran mine on high so I don't know what the max rate might be... and my basement isn't as wet as yours is now.

Bob

Reply to
'nuther Bob

Ours is made by Zoeller. It uses city water pressure to drive the pump. Basically, you hook it up to a water line, and set the float switch to activate above the level of your electric pump. Obviously there's a need for additional plumbing for the supply water and to eject the sump water, but it's well worth it. You never need to worry about a power outage or running a generator.

Reply to
user

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