Worried about water in your basement?

 

We provide full service for basement water, ice dams and water remediatiation servces.    Hydro works with most insurance companies and can help you keep your home safe and dry.

 

We offer Hot Water Extraction, Drying Services, to prevent mold and or mildew from growing in your home.

 

Here are pointers from the University of Minnesota Extension, the University of Minnesota Environmental Health and Safety Department, the Insurance Federation of Minnesota and Standard Water Control Systems:

 

-- Take pictures and videos of the mess for insurance claims and tax deductions.

 

-- The water's probably contaminated, either because it has run through soil or has backed up through the sewer system. So wear boots, waterproof gloves and a protective mask.

 

-- Remove as much stuff as possible, especially things that got wet. If sewage has gotten on an item, throw it out.

 

-- Turn off the power in the water-damaged area. Check with an electrician about what's safe and what's not.

 

-- Remove standing water with pails, mops, rags and/or sump pumps. Then suck out all the water you can with a shop vacuum.

 

-- Begin drying the rooms by using dehumidifiers, fans and air conditioning. Using a space heater along with air conditioning will draw moisture out of carpet and walls and into the air.

 

-- Shut doors to the basement -- if there's mold, you don't want it blowing all over the house.

 

-- Continue with a second disinfecting cleaning. You may use diluted bleach or other products. 

 

-- The motto for a successful cleanup is "hurry up and get the water out    
 

 

" What isn't cleaned up within 48 hours may not be able to be salvaged. And what is cleaned up may need to sit for weeks, even months, before it's dry enough to paint or drywall.

 

-- Interior walls are easier to save because they don't have insulation; you may have to trim off the area that got wet, plus the space above it. When insulation gets wet in exterior walls, it may be impossible to stop the wall cavity from getting moldy.

 

-- Even if you're a do-it-yourselfer, consider using professional companies, which may have equipment and expertise to save things you can't, like a soggy carpet or wet walls.

 

-- Upholstered furniture that gets wet with contaminated water is a lost cause.

 

-- Standard homeowner's insurance doesn't cover flooding, which includes water that seeps in through saturated ground. Flood insurance must be purchased separately through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There's also the self-explanatory rider called "backup of sewer and drain endorsement" that costs around $40 per year.

 

-- Don't have water in your basement -- yet? Don't get too confident, as the ground is saturated. Go around your yard and make sure you're minimizing flooding possibilities, such as clogged gutters and full window wells. Bring that expensive entertainment system upstairs for a while. And make sure your sump pump works.