5 Tips For Dealing With Water Damage

Posted by on Jun 7, 2017 in Uncategorized | No Comments

Water damage can occur when water collects in an area where it shouldn’t. Many different circumstances can cause water damage in your home or office including flooding, plumbing leaks, malfunctioning appliances, HVAC issues, water buildup in areas such as crawl spaces, attics and basements, roof leaks, as well as natural disasters. Because this type of damage is not always visible, it can go unnoticed and cause a lot of damage if left to sit untreated. Besides rotting wood, and damaging furniture, it can facilitate mold growth especially if the water damage has occurred under carpets. The important thing to remember is not to delay cleanup once you notice the signs of water damage. There are several things you can do to help remedy the situation right away before deciding if you need professional help.

1. Move Damaged Items Out

It’s a good idea to remove all items affected by the water damage out of the area so that the situation can be correctly assessed and dealt with. It’s best to put the items in a well ventilated zone as well so that they can dry out.

2. Remove Standing Water

Always use protective gear like goggles, gloves and waterproof footwear when dealing with standing water, as it may be contaminated. Keep in mind that children and pets must be kept away from it as well. You can use a wet/dry vacuum to help clear out small amounts of water under 5 gallons. Otherwise, you might need to use a water pump to remove larger amounts. If the walls and ceiling have been exposed to water damage, then drying them as soon as possible using a fan is a good idea to prevent any deterioration.

3. Disinfect and Dry Out the Area

You can use fans and open windows to get some ventilation into the area to begin drying out any moisture that is present. Bacterial and microbial growth can begin forming in only a few days depending on environmental conditions in the area, so it’s important to ventilate and dry out the area as soon as possible. If drywall has been exposed to water damage due to a flood or big plumbing leak, it may need to be replaced since it is very porous and can be permanently damaged by mold growth. It’s also a great idea to disinfect any areas including walls and ceilings that have been water damaged. There are several eco-friendly professional cleaning products that you can find at your local hardware store that are highly effective.

4. Check For Mold

If the water damage has been sitting for a while in a dark damp spot, then there’s a chance you could have mold growth. Besides seeing actual mold growth, another way to tell is if you smell a musty earthy odor in the area. Water damage that occurs behind walls is especially hard to detect and very often requires a professional inspection to locate. Keep in mind that if you are experiencing physical symptoms of mold exposure such as breathing difficulty, sinus congestion, eye irritation, coughing or headaches, then stop what you are doing and either get a respirator mask before continuing, or call restoration specialists to help deal with the situation. If you have water damage that has occurred underneath carpeting then you may have to remove it, and replace the carpet padding underneath. This is because toxic mold begins growing less than 48 hours after exposure to moisture. The dark, damp, unventilated environment underneath carpet is the perfect environment for mold to grow and spread. It can be quite dangerous to your health if left as is, or if treated halfway with a repair job that didn’t address the full scope of the water damage. The best course of action is to remove and replace all water logged materials.

5. Call Water Mitigation Specialists

It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion even if you feel like you have the problem taken care of. A general inspection by specialists can further put your mind at ease if you think you have addressed all of the areas affected by water damage. If the pros do catch something that you might have missed the first time around, they can help take care of the situation in a timely manner the right way so that you won’t have any unpleasant and costly surprises down the road.