Water damage can be overwhelming and scary at first sight. And that is very understandable. It’s not easy to watch your property getting completely waterlogged and moldy or even in a state of dilapidation. Such a scenario can leave you feeling helpless and wondering if you will be able to save your home.
Well, I am glad to tell you there is a huge possibility that your building can be salvaged with the help of these steps:
1. Take Pictures
This probably seems ridiculous, but it is one of the most sensible steps to take. If your house is insured, you will need some proof of the damage. These proofs will help you claim insurance and recover your home.
In case, you are not sure if your insurance covers water damage caused by flood, you should better get in touch with your insurance company.
Recommended Read: How to Stay Safe During Flood & When to Call Flood Cleanup Company?
2. Remove The Sitting Water
Water that is allowed to sit for too long on surfaces, does more damage to a home. It will continue to seep into everything it can reach, progressively making the damage worse. Therefore, it’s important to get rid of the water as soon as possible.
However, the water may be contaminated, or even electrified, so it will not be a good idea to handle it yourself. Flood cleanup requires a lot of inspection, equipment, and expertise. So, it’s recommended to take help of a water damage restoration company.
3. Get Rid Of The Dirt Left Behind By The Water Damage
Usually, flood water comes with a lot of toxins, dirt, and debris. Once the standing water from a flood is removed, be prepared to find a lot of dirt left behind. These leftovers can have anything from glass, nails, sharp wood pieces to mud and sand.
You will have to clean this out very thoroughly, even going as far as scrubbing, and rinsing down the house. Otherwise, it may cause serious health problems for you and your family.
4. Air Dry All Your Affected Electronic Appliances
Air drying is the best method to revive electronic appliances affected by a flood. For this purpose, you are going to need dry and clean air, such as the air from a fan, to ensure proper drying.
Don’t confuse air drying with heat drying. It because it will only increase the problem by ruining the wiring of your electronic appliance. If you don’t want to take this load on yourself, it’s best to get in touch with Dry Effect.
5. Keep An Eye Out For Signs Of Mold
Mold is a fungus that grows in damp places. It is absolutely horrible to deal with mold, on top of water damage. It is very difficult to handle since it can grow in unreachable places. In fact, it can fill up your home with its awful musty smell.
Recommended Read: What is that smell—is that mold?
Mold is also a problem to remove since one wrong touch can cause it to release its spores. The release of spores can not only prove hazardous to health but also help the mold to multiply.
6. Make Sure To Properly Dry All Moistness
The removal of still water is only one part of drying and in fact, a small part of flood cleanup process. It’s because, there’s a huge possibility that water has already seeped into the floors, walls, and other things, rendering them waterlogged.
As a first step, you should first remove the carpets since they retain moisture and may ruin your floor. Furthermore, it’s difficult to air dry the carpets due to the underlying carpet pad. If there is no mold in the affected area, then you should set up the fans to force air circulation and introduce dry air to the area.
In the presence of mold, consider using the dehumidification process. If it is present in the small space with low humidity, an open window or sunlight will suffice.
7. Cleaning Of Hard Surfaces And Porous Materials
If your home is affected by a flood, thoroughly wash the things made from metal, plastic, and glass with a mix of hot water and ammonia soap. Disinfect the concrete area and other surfaces with bleach to ensure the removal of harmful toxins.
Also, wash and disinfect the porous material such as fabric and couches with a pine oil solution. It may sound easy, but difficult to clean. In case there is a presence of mold on fabric and couches, just throw them out.
Sometimes A Home Can’t Be Saved
Unfortunately, it is not in every case that a home can be salvaged. Water damage is extremely dangerous and if a flood is left unattended for too long, it can ruin the structural integrity of your home.
It may further lead to falling apart and rendered inhabitable. The outcome of a flood on your home, however, is fully dependent on how quickly you can initiate the flood cleanup process.
The Takeaway
While water damage can be scary and overwhelming, it does not necessarily mark the end of your home. However the process of doing this is not easy, nor is it very safe.
That’s why the best thing to do is to kick back & relax. Let Dry Effect handle the water damage restoration process of your home!
How long does it take for mold to die without moisture?
Leave a Reply