While shutting down the source of water could be relatively easy, removing puddled water from inside the house could be a giant task. And God save you if the insulation material, the carpet, and the upholsteries have saturated with water.
If water damage is worrying you, then the following tips to fight water restoration issues will keep you calm and composed throughout the remediation process.
Tips to Fight Water Restoration Issues
NOTE:Remember the first step after closing the source and turning off the electricity is to assess the damage, call a restoration expert, and save your house as much as and as quickly as possible. Also remember that waiting for your friend/ spouse to visit and assess the damage could cause more damage. Waiting more than 24 hours is like sending an invitation to molds to attack.
So, just don’t wait, but act!
Tip 1: Identify the Type of Water
There are 3 different types of water – clean water, gray water, and black water. The clean water contains rainwater, water from pipe leak, or burst. The gray water is slightly tarnished water or dirty water, such as water from dishwasher, toilet pipe burst, washing machine, etc. The black water is highly contaminated water, which contains sewage water, serious flooding from a river nearby, or any water that may have bacteria, rodents, snakes, etc. in it.
Identifying the type of water will help experts bring the right equipment and gear to remove it.
Tip 2: Look for Mold Growth
Since mold can start growing on any surface within 24 hours of exposure to dark and humid atmosphere, any signs of mold growth, such as black spots, odor, brown flaky walls, etc. should be immediately addressed. Look for mold in hidden areas, such as cabinets, cupboards, under walls, inside insulation, and underneaththe carpet.
Tip 3: Separate Dry and Wet Things
The belongings that are dry and have not been affected by water damage must be immediately removed from the wet ones. Get rid of the moisture as soon as possible. Place table fans around to circulate air, keep the doors and windows open for good air ventilation, and switch on dehumidifiers to prevent mold growing on the carpet and other materials.
Tip 4: Throw Away Porous Material
Even the item is dear to you throw it away, if it has suffered water damage, especially by gray and black water. Insulation, fabric, carpet, clothes, unsealed cement, drywall, and wood are few such examples. Water can easily destroy porous items and the stuff nearby by shrinking or deforming them.
Tip 5: Repair the Ceiling First
If you are hiring a professional, licensed water damage expert, then you need not worry. But if you are doing the restoration process yourself, then start by repairing the ceiling and roof. After prolonged exposure to water, ceilings and roof can sag or collapse.
After the ceiling, restore the water damage in the basement if required. Basements exposed to water can erode the building’s foundation.
Tip 6: Replace Damaged Wood, Sealed Floor, and Insulator
Swollen wood indicates water damage. So, if you notice something like that, call a remediation expert or a carpenter and get the portion checked and replaced. Make sure to inspect underlayment, padding, floorboards, window sills, ceramic tiles, engineered wood, and high-end vinyl for water damage signs.
Tip 7: Disinfect Everything after Restoration
Usually, the water damage restoration company takes care of this part, but if you are doing the remediation on your own, make sure you cleanse everything, that was affected by water damage, with a good quality sanitizer.
Spray a layer of homemade disinfectant and let it dry on the surface to prevent future mold growth. Also, get your carpets deep cleaned to complete the restoration process.
