Nine Tips and Tricks For Water Damage Cleanup

Water is precious for life. It is just not possible to live without water. Despite all its life-giving benefits water is also very destructive by nature. Among all the potential disasters that can hit our property, water damage stands a good chance of taking the top spot.

Often there are times when the damage caused by water goes unnoticed. It takes weeks or even months before the damage shows up. While dealing with any kind of damage from water time plays the main essence. The key at such times is to act fast.

Water damage affects our houses on so many levels. It not only ruins carpets, ceiling, furniture, and precious family possessions but also some irreplaceable personal things. Our normal routine will get affected and we may even have to vacate our house during repairs.  

Water damage that is not addressed quickly could eventually weaken the foundation of a building as well. Moving immediately, thus increases the chances that all our belongings can be restored or saved.

It is quite stressful to deal with household water damage especially when it leads to more problems down the line. These repairs require professional help like the Water Damage Restoration California find this there are a few easy steps that we could do to avoid further destruction.

What Causes Water Damage?

A water disaster leaves our home and life disrupted. There are various causes for water damage. It could be leaking or burst pipes, overflowing toilet, natural disasters, etc. If our property is affected then it is critical to identify the cause and solve the problem quickly to prevent further destruction.

Some of the causes of water damage are:

• Strong winds and heavy downpours can damage your roof resulting in a certain amount of rainwater into your house or business. Worst, flash flooding can occur due to severe weather especially if you are in a flood-prone area.

• The gutter system of your home is supposed to draw the rainwater away from your house.  But sometimes the gutters get blocked due to leaves, mud, or other types of waste materials over time. When this happens, rainwater will not be able to flow properly and will overflow into the sides of the house causing damage to the ceiling, walls, and floors of your home.

• A loose-fitting pipe below the kitchen sink can leak enough to damage the cabinet beneath it.  If the pipe is broken then the complications can be more. Such leakages can damage the entire wall and foster the formation of an entire colony of mold. 

• If there is a leaking plumbing line or draining pipe beneath the concrete slab, in the soil, then you are likely to face expensive repairs. For various reasons the drains in your kitchen sink, bathroom floor can be clogged up. 

• It could be hair, toiletries, dirt, or any foreign objects that could be obstructing the drainpipe preventing normal drainage. If this is not dealt with immediately then these clogged drains can easily back up causing flooding and water damage.

• Sprinkler systems have no doubt saved your property during a fire but there are incidents when an old sprinkler system has turned on even when there is not even a slight indication of a fire. The water damage thus caused by this malfunctioning can be considered especially if there are electronic appliances all over your home or business.

There are thus various other reasons as well for water damage occurring around your office or home.  Whatever the reason a quick restoration plan is what is important say Water Damage Restoration California company.

Nine Tips and Tricks for Water Damage Cleanup

Water damage can occur due to numerous reasons but the fact is an immediate cleanup will always help in restoring your home or business without any major losses. Some tips and tricks for water damage cleanup are:

1  Know the water – Surprisingly three types of water could have entered your home or business. The first is clean water from rain, leaky pipes or condensation, etc. This is quite harmless and you can clean it yourself. The second is a slightly dirty water gray in color. This could be from washing machines, clean toilets, etc. This will contain contaminants. So be careful while cleaning it and wear proper safety gear to protect yourself. The third type is water from sewage or flooding from nearby rivers, etc which would be black. This consists of bacteria, waste, and other contaminants and can cause serious health issues. Do not try to clean this yourself and call a professional for help.

2  Mold – This will start growing within 24 hours.  So inspect for mold and mildew as fast as possible. Be careful if you find these issues because some molds are toxic to humans and all mods damage the materials they infest. If it is a small mold issue cut out that infected portion and throw it away immediately. But if it is a serious mold then get out of the place and shut any airflow to prevent spore contamination. Inspect in hidden areas like inside walls and under floors as mold grows quickly in such places. The best tip is to take the help of a professional to prevent huge damage.

3  Dry out – You must get rid of all the moisture as soon as possible because this causes more damage. If the leakage is small this may be easy. Use fans for the circulation of air in the affected areas. If the area is large then consider hiring a large dehumidifier to dry out the surrounding materials like wood, carpet, etc.  

4  Throw away porous materials – Porous materials mean fabric, carpet, insulation, etc. If such materials have been soaked in water then you have to cut them out and throw them away. Water damages porous materials permanently by shrinking and warping them. Mildew further damages such items. If you have a favorite piece of furniture that you want to save try isolating and drying it but there are fewer chances of saving it.  Remember that unsealed cement, wood, drywall are also porous materials.

5  Disinfect – Once the damaged pieces have been removed the first thing to do before you begin any work is disinfecting the whole area. The common choice is the bleach solution but there are numerous other options as well. Spray and wipe down lightly the area before any damage repair work is started as this helps to make sure that no mold spores are left out.

6  Ceiling Repair – Ceilings that have been exposed to water damage are at more risk because of gravity. Remove the affected ceiling boards or panels first. If the problem has occurred due to a roof problem then try and find the source of the leak. Check if the water has not caused any structural damage to the beams and rafters.  Try and contact a professional to enquire about replacing the water-damaged ceiling and the costs for the repair.

7  Damaged Wood – Wood that has been severely warped particularly the flooring or wood that has developed mold or mildew or rotting wood has to be replaced. Remove the damaged boards and thoroughly clean below them before getting them replaced. If wood forms the structural component of your house then be careful while replacing it because you do not want the structure losing its support during and after the water damage repair.

8  External siding – Roof problems can cause water damage to siding materials. The water will seep in behind your siding and cause permanent damage to vulnerable materials. If this occurs, then you will have to remove or replace the siding immediately before rot sets in. Water can also seep in through other external walls of the house, so having a thorough inspection is important.

9  Drywall – If drywall has moved up to 3/8 inch or more from the baseline then the entire sheet has to be replaced. Another option is to repair only the water-stained portion.  Before you start on any repair check the insulation behind the drywall for any damages.

These are just a few tips and tricks but whatever you follow for cleanup do check up on the insurance factor as well before you proceed.

Conclusion

Cleaning up after water damage involves a lot of work and much of it can be done by yourself. 

But for some of the damage, you need professional help like Water Damage contact EZ Flood Restoration USA California company to do the work of reimbursements on home and flood insurance or to acquire permits for building repair.

Watch every step after the water damage and do not risk yourself because you do not what is in store for you when you enter a premise after the damage.

Author Bio:-

Walter is a marketing manager at EZ Flood Restoration USA.he loves to write about Mold Remediation Services,Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel,Crawl Space Cleaning, Fire and Smoke Damage