Flooded Basement Cleanup Chicago
Do you have water in the basement? We’re ready to restore your property.
Has heavy rain flooded your basement?
You need to take immediate action before the problem worsens.
For years, property owners have relied on ServiceMaster by Zaba as the leader among companies providing flooded basement cleanup services for Chicago, IL and the suburbs.
We are IICRC certified and expertly trained to restore your finished or unfinished basement after a flood.
Whether you live in Logan Square, Gold Coast, Millennium Park, Avondale, or the North Shore suburbs we’re here for you with 24 hour emergency services.
Our Professional Basement Flood Damage Restoration Services for Chicago, IL
Our team is standing by, ready to repair and restore your basement in Chicago to its pre-flood condition with the following services:
Flood Damage Inspection
Assessing flood damage can be difficult. You may not be able to identify everything that’s been affected by the water at first glance, which is where we come in.
Water Removal
We have the equipment and technology needed to remove all the water in your home or business.
Our team will set up industrial-grade sump pumps, fans, and more to remove standing water and prepare the restoration area.
Sewage Backup Cleanup
Sewage backup is one of the most dangerous kinds of flooding thanks to the pathogens and bacteria present in the floodwaters.
Our team will remove solid waste materials, decontaminate and sanitize the space, and help identify the root cause of the backup so it doesn’t happen again.
Structural Drying
Wet building materials are vulnerable building materials. If significant portions of your home’s framing, ceilings, drywall, or flooring have been damaged by water, our team will develop a customized plan to dry them out as soon as possible.
Dehumidification
After a flood, excess humidity can generate mold and mildew growth and create more damage in your home.
By using fans and industrial dehumidifiers to lower the humidity in the affected area, our team reduces moisture and helps eliminate mold growth.
Decontamination
Floodwaters carry a variety of contaminants – from harsh chemicals to raw sewage and trash.
Our team uses strict decontamination methods and industrial cleaners to decontaminate the affected area, kill viruses and bacteria, and make the space sanitary and safe once more.
Drywall Removal
When drywall becomes saturated, it can sag and fail. Our team will remove and replace any drywall affected by the floodwaters and prepare your walls or ceilings for a complete restoration.
Baseboard & Trim Removal
Baseboards and trim often take the brunt of floodwaters. After a water damage event, our team will remove any affected baseboard and trim, limiting mold and mildew growth in your home.
Flooring Removal
When floodwaters saturate flooring, the flooring material traps moisture, creating an ideal habitat for pathogens and mold growth. Our team will remove affected flooring, subflooring, and carpet backings.
Fixture & Appliance Removal
Electrical appliances are not safe to use after a flood. Our team will carefully remove any affected appliances and conduct a professional inspection of your home’s electrical outlets and systems to ensure your safety.
Our 10-Step Flooded Basement Cleanup Process for Chicago, IL & Suburbs
Our 10-step process covers all aspects of damage cleanup from initial inspection to final reconstruction.
1. Determine the Source
We start your recovery with a property inspection that identifies the cause of your basement flooding.
We determine the source, quickly develop an action plan, and explain all necessary repairs.
Whether your basement flooded due to flash flooding or a burst pipe, our ServiceMaster pros will figure it out with our advanced water damage equipment.
If the flooding requires sewage cleanup, we take special precautions necessary for dealing with biohazardous waste.
2. Notify your Insurance Company
Property owners are often surprised to learn that the source of basement flooding can affect their insurance policy coverage.
As a preferred Quality Restoration Vendor, we enjoy solid professional relationships with local and national carriers, so we help you navigate the claims process.
3. Start Work Right Away
You don’t have to wait for us to get back to you in a few days or weeks. We’re ready to start basement flood cleanup and restoration when we arrive at your front door.
Our fleet vans are fully stocked with the equipment and gear necessary to begin your recovery immediately.
4. Water Extraction, Drying and Dehumidification
Our teams use a combination of truck mounts and high performance extractors for water removal. The equipment is highly effective on both hard flooring, carpets and concrete. Once we’ve cleared out the water, we take care of water damage restoration.
5. Pull up Soaked Flooring
Wet carpet needs to be pulled up as soon as possible to minimize the chance of a mold outbreak in its fiber and backing. We also pull up the padding and determine how much material can be saved.
Our IICRC-certified technicians can often restore both carpet and padding to their original condition
6. Address Sheetrock, Baseboards and Insulation
Exposed to less than 1 inch of flood water, sheetrock wicks moisture through its structure, begins to buckle and contaminates insulation. Soaked baseboards swell, and wall framing becomes water-damaged.
We tear out all affected materials, salvage as much as possible and clear the way for restoration.
7. Clean, Sanitize, Restore
From steam cleaning carpets to sanitizing materials exposed to sewage, our process covers everything in your basement.
We use specialized equipment designed for heavy-duty property cleanup, and we work with industry-proven products formulated to sanitize and recover furnishings and belongings.
8. Dry, Dehumidify & Freshen
Completely drying out the basement and your belongings usually takes between three and five days. We set up large-scale air movers, axial fans and dehumidifiers to speed up the process.
Our high-tech air scrubbers remove odors and airborne contaminants so that your basement smells fresh again.
9. Address Mold Problems
When leaky plumbing or foundation seepage causes basement flooding, we find that 80 percent of these situations also present serious mold problems.
Our services cover mold removal, and we follow up with proven remediation techniques that prevent its return.
10. Reconstruct Your Basement
Working with both you and your insurance company, we determine the extent of reconstruction necessary and the scope of your coverage. Most projects take an average of two weeks to finalize.
It’s our goal to completely restore your basement to its original condition (or even better!) from flooring and walls to fixtures and furnishings.
Why Choose ServiceMaster by Zaba for Basement Flood Damage Restoration?
- 85 years of combined basement flooding restoration experience
- 24 hour emergency service, 365 days a year
- We manage your insurance claims
- Licensed, bonded, insured, IICRC certified
- Complete property reconstruction
- Locally owned & operated
WHAT CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING
Helpful Resources for Chicago Residents
Report basement flooding to the city of Chicago
Preparing for a Flood – Ready.Gov
Typically, most policies cover 100 percent of water damages excluding your deductible. However, be sure to check coverage details with your agent.
Use a disinfectant to disinfect the walls, floors, and furniture that came in touch with the flood water. Let them dry and then repeat.
You need to assess how dangerous the situation is before you enter your basement. If there is water already collected, you could be at risk for an electric shock if the water has come into contact with an outlet or wiring. Be careful.
Floods are incredibly dangerous events, full of potential health hazards. Even a minor flood in your Chicago basement can present the following risks:
1. Electrocution
If you make physical contact with floodwaters before your home is fully disconnected from the grid, you could be electrocuted.
Appliances, electrical outlets, and other electrical components should not be used or retouched until a licensed electrician or restoration expert has assessed the space and deemed it safe for entry.
Never go into a flooded building until this has happened.
2. Drowning and Injury
Did you know that it only takes 6 inches of fast-moving water to knock over an adult and just 12 inches to move a vehicle?
Floodwaters are a powerful force, and entering them in any setting poses a real risk of drowning or bodily harm.
3. Contamination
In addition to being powerful, floodwaters are also dirty. Water that backs up into your home or business may contain raw sewage, trash, pathogens, or other biological hazards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
“Floodwater contaminated by microbes may contain bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths. Exposure to these pathogens can cause illnesses ranging from mild gastritis to serious diseases such as dysentery, infectious hepatitis, and severe gastroenteritis.”
Since flood water saturates materials, even coming into contact with areas where the floodwater has receded may place you in contact with biological threats.