Open the flood gates....

Over the weekend, we had our fourth major flood in 6 years.  Yes, fourth.  Although this is our first in this house.  After a glorious morning of sleeping in (thanks honey!), I went downstairs to the office in the basement to put a few things away.  I took one step in the room and went my feet.  Water literally squished up when I stepped.  I went into the family room, opened the utility room door, and saw water POURING out of the water heater.  

I screamed for Ryan and then proceeded to have a nervous breakdown.  You see, with this being the fourth major flood, I have a thing about water in the basement, on the floor, in the carpet.  I literally cried hysterically for about 45 minutes.  I did manage to help Ryan move things out in the meantime but could.not.stop.crying. 

Long story short, the water heater had rusted through the bottom.  All 50 gallons plus the water refilling ended up in our family room, utility room, unfinished bathroom, and office.  Luckily Kailey's room was spared.  After tearing out the pad, moving the stuff out of the rooms, and arguing for a while, we finally decided to call Serv Pro (disaster cleanup service) and file an insurance claim.  We had used them for our last flood and they were really good.

They arrived about 6 p.m. Friday night and didn't leave for 2 1/2 hours.  The ended up finding mold in the office AND family room.  They said that it had probably been leaking for a while - we just didn't know it because of where the water went. 

5 air movers and 2 dehumidifiers later, we were on our way to drying out.  It sounded like a tornado downstairs and Emily screamed if we tried to take her down there. 

Ryan and his dad installed a new water heater on Saturday.  It's very interesting to me how you really take things for granted (like hot water) until you suddenly don't have it.   And wow - the basement is so scary.  I can't find anything.  Items were taken to the living room, garage, Kailey's room.  Poor Kailey can hardly even get to her bed.  We just took things to wherever we could find an open space that wouldn't be in the way of Serv Pro.  And my office was scary BEFORE the flood!

The insurance adjuster came today and measured, calculated, and wrote us out a check for almost $2000 ($2500 less our $500 deductible).  They did allow for new carpet in the office (it had mold on the very edge), a new bookshelf, and all of the labor, materials, etc.  They figure everything based on having to hire professionals to do the work.  I think we (Ryan) are going to do the work instead of paying someone.  Ryan has put new pad in and restretched carpet, drywalled, and I've painted a lot of rooms.  This way we can pay off the water heater, paint the whole basement, hopefully finish the bathroom.

I can't believe that I am going to do this but below are some pics of the current state of our basement.  How embarrassing!!

The immaculate family room (the part that didn't get wet)

More family room

The corner of the family room that was wet and had the mold (which was the worst at the part where the most drywall was cut out).

The office corner (closet to the left).  Almost the whole room was wet and had the pad taken out but beneath this part of the baseboard was where the mold was.

The beautiful office.  Notice the computer in the corner...  Have to have our wireless internet and phone!!