Measures to Take After Water Damage

7/27/2017 (Permalink)

Measures to Take After Water Damage

Water in home can cause lots of damage. Not only can flood damage ruin valuables but the house itself. If you act quickly enough, you can reduce the flood damage to the home and even save some prized possessions. The success of any water damage restoration mainly depends on how long the water in business has been allowed to persist.
Never take water damage lightly. Even if there is just an inch of water in business or it is just damp, it creates the perfect breeding ground for mold. The result is that any water damage restoration will be quite expensive. The mold that results from water in business can ruin furniture, carpets, and all the flooring. It can also affect the indoor air quality, which can make it impossible to live in the building even after drying all the water. Besides calling the insurance company, here are some great tips for flood damage restoration.

1. Disconnect all the Electronics

If one finds water in business after a major flood, the first step should be to switch power off at the main switch. After that, proceed to switch off all electronics and move them to higher ground to prevent any permanent flood damage. If this is done just a few hours after the flooding, there is good chance that the restoration will be successful.

2. Move anything not Bolted to the Ground

Another mitigation measure one must take to prevent further water damage is to move everything else out of the water. If a person has furniture, carpets and other objects that can be moved, make an effort to move them to high ground. A person may be able to save their carpet if they get it disinfected and cleaned for instance. However, it is unlikely that one will save the under padding, which is what absorbs most of the water.

3. Remove the Water

After moving everything, one will need to get rid of water in home. It is an important mitigation measure in reducing damage to the structure. There are numerous ways to get rid of the water. If flooding has caused a power outage, a person will have to use manual means to get rid of it. Use mops and buckets to soak up water and pour it down the drain. As long as the sewer is not backed up, this mitigation measure will work just fine. It will also make the professional drying by experts later on quite easy.

4. Get Rid of Moisture in the Affected Area

Drying out the area affected by water in home is important after one gets rid of all the excess water in home. It is an important mitigation measure in preventing the growth of bacteria and mold. If the rain subsided, open the windows to allow for circulation of air. It is important that the drying process starts as soon as possible. If the drywall was affected, it will have to be cut away in areas that were touched by water.

5. Disinfect the House

After the water cleanup process, when everything has dried out, the house will need to be disinfected. The water cleanup process can only get rid of water but not bacteria and mold that could spread from burst sewer pipes. Apply enough disinfectant in all areas of the house that were contaminated during the water cleanup process. Even the clothes one wore during water cleanup need to be disinfected.

6. Dispose of Waste Responsibly

It can be quite tempting to throw everything out in a messy pile and send it to the dumpsite. Instead, one should take some time to organize that damaged goods into neat piles and take the recyclable items to a recycling center. It will help to alleviate the pressure on the local landfill. Dispose of adhesives, toxic liquids, and any damaged electronics in the right manner. It shows that one cares about the environment. Visit http://www.SERVPROwashingtoncountytn.com for more information on water damage.