No matter how careful we are, water has a knack for ending up where it’s not supposed to be, and usually at the most inconvenient of times. Whether it is the clogged garbage disposal or a broken valve on the toilet, water damage has a way of ruining our day.
If your flood is relatively minor, you can easily take care of it yourself with some perseverance and simple tools. The main thing is to take care of it quickly. Getting the water dried up will prevent further damage and keep mold and other types of problems from cropping up.
Professionals break water damage into three main categories: Clean, grey and black. Clean has no real contamination and is what happens when the sink overflows. Grey water has some contaminants that can make you sick, but nothing totally disgusting; this is what you get from the backed up garbage disposal. Black water is the really disgusting type and contains solid human and animal waste.
Whatever the type of water damage you have, be sure to take precautions to protect your health. Wear protective gear and gloves. This is especially important if you are dealing with grey or black water.
Finding a telltale water spot on your wall may lead you to groan, but it’s something that you should take care of as quickly as possible. Finding the source of the watermark and fixing it fast can prevent bigger problems later. Not only does the water leave stains, it can also encourage the growth of mold and mildew behind the wall that can cause illness and allergies.
If you happen to find a small ocean on your floor don’t walk into the middle of it to turn the faucet off. Turn the other way and go turn off the electricity before fetching your wading boots. Water may have already soaked the electrical lines and you don’t want to take chances.
Speed is an important factor in preventing water damage. The faster you can get the water dried up, the better it will be for your home. Having a wet-dry vac in the garage is a wonderful tool for just such emergencies as this. Suck up as much water as you possible can by using the vacuum. Once that is done, bring in all the fans you own and maybe some from the neighbor’s, and move the air around to facilitate drying the area. You will have to leave the air moving for at least a couple of days.
If you had deep flooding, it is a good idea to remove the baseboards and disinfect them. Removing them will allow them to dry well and it will also give the area behind a chance to dry.
Clean and disinfect all the flooring affected. If your carpet is involved, remove every bit of moisture possible and then use a good disinfectant and deodorizer to saturate it and then remove all liquid again and go through the air-drying process. If you are able to thoroughly saturate and disinfect it, it’s possible you many not have to remove and toss out the padding.
Don’t forget to check your furniture for damage. Go through the same procedures to remove water and disinfect and deodorize.
If you feel the job is too big for you, don’t be shy about calling in the big guns. After all, they are the experts in dealing with water damage and they can probably put your mind at ease. Contact your homeowner insurance company for references when you call them to place your claim.
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Tags: floods, home, home flooding, home improvement, water damage