Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - Dehumdifier question

We just got douced this past weekend with torrential rains and I now have a wet basement. Our old dehumdifier registered that it was 75% humidity down there but refused to pull any water.

So off we go to buy a new one. We bought a Whirlpool which is pulling water out just awesome. My question - - - - why is this new unit turning black? It started with a black film on the outside shortly after starting it running. And now the hopper (bucket, whatever you call it) is turning more and more black with each fill. I just put a touch of bleach in the bottom but am concerned as to the cause. Why would a new machine that hasn't been running for but 24 hours already show what I believe could be signs of mold? Is there something in my basement I should be concerned about?

Any ideas/suggestions/information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Wet in Nebraska,
Bethany

Surfaces that remain damp for 24-48 hours can grow mold. Mold and mildew spores are everywhere in the air. When they find a damp, soiled surface in a poorly ventilated area, they settle in. Get some fans running to improve your air circulation. What for signs of mold elsewhere. Disinfect all surfaces that have mold.

How deep the water get in the basement? What type of floor covering? Did water get in the walls?

<Surfaces that remain damp for 24-48 hours can grow mold. Mold and mildew <spores are everywhere in the air. When they find a damp, soiled surface in a <poorly ventilated area, they settle in. Get some fans running to improve <your air circulation. What for signs of mold elsewhere. Disinfect all surfaces <that have mold.

It wasn't wet that long when I started the dehumidifier. I am not seeing mold anywhere else. Can the dehumdifier pull mold from the air and have it settle on itself?


<How deep the water get in the basement? What type of floor covering? Did <water get in the walls?

The water didn't get very deep and I was able to extract it pretty quickly. One room has very low-pile, glued down carpet. and the other has a nice thick pad, with lush carpet (very painful to dry). But they are both pretty dry now. I am still running fans. The odor is diminishing. But I just worried about this dark deposit on the dehumidifier.

I don't know about the walls. It is a basement with drywalled walls in the area with the leak. They don't seem wet to the touch.

Thanks for your help
Bethany