SERVPRO Handles Flooded Basement Cleanup in Niagara Falls Properties

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has IICRC certified technicians and equipment for any size storm restoration job.

Local Niagara Falls Residents Trust SERVPRO With Their Flood Damage Restoration Needs

The city of Niagara Falls is no stranger to wet conditions, but heavy rains recently highlighted the need for an extensive overhaul of the sewer system. The city council voted and approved a $3.5 million contract to revamp the sewer and drainage system over three years. 

Locally heavy rains have caused the sewer to become overwhelmed, and the result is water backing up into basements through the common entry points of 

• Floor drains
• Toilets
• Showers

The scheduled work entails a complete rehab and switching to a trenchless drainage system for wastewater that will be more reliable when heavy rains come calling. 

The current system was found to be failing as the state of disrepair allowed groundwater to enter. The high level of infiltration put the sewer system at risk for failure, and before wide-scale property damage occurred, the city devised a plan of action. Best of all, the repairs slated to get done can get accomplished without the need to dig up the ground or open the sewers, which means there is zero impact on residents in terms of disruption to their yards, construction equipment, or service levels. 

The project will seal up the infiltration sources, and a benefit of this action is that the amount of water flowing through the siphon and pump stations will automatically get reduced, which lowers the risk of sewer overflows that cause basement flooding in the area. 

What is the Best Way to Save Possessions in a Flooded Basement in Niagara Falls

When floodwater enters a basement, even a finished basement still has a concrete substrate under the carpet or floating flooring, and there is nothing for the water to do but collect and spread. 

A flooded basement in Niagara Falls poses a challenge for cleanup. While floodwater tends to recede as rapidly as it enters a home on the upper level, this is a much slower process in a basement. In a finished basement, the water wicks into the sheetrock and quickly seeps under the flooring. In an unfinished area, the water pools and needs fast action to limit damage to the structure. When this appears to be the issue, the techs use their moisture detection equipment to pinpoint the migration path and determine the number of building materials that require removal. 

Removal of Items For Cleaning

In many homes, the basement and attic space tend to become a catch-all for things that are useful but not in use. SERVPRO technicians work in an organized fashion to remove items that may have the potential for reuse by cleaning to a staging area outside the worksite. 

Benefits of a Move-Out

When many undamaged articles need storage during the mitigation, the techs can perform a move-out and store them securely either at the SERVPRO facility or another storage area. This action is beneficial because: 

• It ensures the other items in the home remain undamaged
• The homeowner gets a list of the items taken and the location in the basement 
• SERVPRO moves the items back into the home when the decontamination and restoration services complete

SERVPRO of North Niagara County at (716) 299-0330 has the equipment to handle a flooded basement in Niagara Fall and make the water damage, "Like it never even happened."