Insight To Help You During A Home Water Damage Event

24 September 2021
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Your home is your sanctuary, but when a water line breaks or an appliance leaks water all over, it will leave your home in a state of disrepair that needs immediate action to prevent mold problems. Here are some recommendations to help you out when your home experiences water damage.

Keep Yourself Safe

As a first priority when you are handling a water damage situation, you should do what you can to keep yourself safe. Protect yourself against injury from a slip or fall due to water on the floor. Water on flooring and carpets can become slippery and you don't want to fall and hit your head or break an arm or leg, especially if you are elderly. Water-logged items can be very heavy, especially furniture, bedding, and carpeting. So if you plan to remove damaged items on your own, be sure you have help and you lift appropriately.

Disconnect the electrical from your home by switching off the main circuit breaker just until you can remove all the water that is on the floors and electrical items and dry out the area. An outlet and electrical plug combined with some water can cause electrocution.

If the water damage is from sewage or grey water in your home, such as from a kitchen sink or bathtub, protect your health by staying away from the contaminated water. Contact a water damage restoration and clean-up company for a safe clean-up of your home and its interior surfaces before you re enter your home.

Clean Up Your Home

Once you have protected your health and kept yourself safe from injury, your next priority is to get the water out of your home and begin to dry off surfaces. Use a pump or siphon system to pull up standing water from the floors. You can also contact a water damage restoration company for emergency access to commercial use pumps and other equipment. It is good to get the air circulating inside your home after you remove the excess water. 

Turn on box and room fans on the floors and walls to help dry out the surfaces, and turn on your home's air conditioner or furnace, depending on if it is summer or winter, which will help dry out the surfaces. Most home HVAC systems have a dehumidifier installed within the system to help pull moisture from the air.

After this step, your last priority is to prevent and clean up any mold growth. Removal of some materials and items inside your home will be necessary to prevent mold growth, such as drywall, insulation, and carpet padding, but some surfaces and items can be properly cleaned and disinfected to protect you and your family from future mold problems.

For more information call a water damage restoration company.