Homeowners cannot go without plumbing problems for long. Common plumbing problems include clogged toilet, leaks from kitchen appliances and much more. One of the most damaging plumbing problems occurs whenever there is a pipe burst or flooding in your home. Before you can think of something, a lot of flood damage has already occurred and you have to deal with it as soon as possible. It not only damages materials like drywall and flooding, some of the long-term effects of excess moisture results in mold growth. The mold spores can travel through your ventilation system and wreak havoc on everyone’s health.
In case, the flooding has occurred in a small area only, maybe your room, then you should perform the cleanup yourself. On the contrary, if there was a major water leak that has affected multiple rooms, even travelling from the upper section of your home to the lower level, or the leakage has gone unnoticed for up to 8 hours, then you need to contact a professional water mitigation company because the professionals have access to specialized drying equipment that are necessary.
Here is exactly what you need to do to handle a minimal amount of water damage:
Avoiding Electric Shock
Whenever dealing with water invasion, the firs and foremost thing to do is cut off the electrical power supply to your home if the leak has occurred near to the electrical appliances and outlets. This way, you can rest assure that you won’t be at a threat of getting an electric shock and can focus on clean up.
Salvage Whatever You Can
In case of pipe burst in your home, it is obvious that your carpets and furniture are getting soaked in water. Chances are lot of it is getting ruined beyond repair. This is the time to throw out the salvage stuff. You should move anything that is salvageable to some dry area. Carpet will require a complete replacement, but try to remove water-soaked sections asap.
Mop The Floors
If there is still a lot of water on the floor, use towels and mop to dry it up. Use a wet-dry vacuum to get rid of excess water. In case you don’t have it at your home, rent a unit from your local hardware and home improvement store.
Use Fresh, Dry Air
Assuming that it is not raining outside, open the doors and windows to bring fresh, dry air into your indoor space. If you have fans available at your home, set them up near the flooded area and turn them on at the highest setting.
Use A Dehumidifier
Chances are that you don’t have a dehumidifier, but you can buy or rent them. You can also ask a friend or neighbor and borrow it from them. The dehumidifiers help to remove moisture from the air and can quickly dry items as compared to fans. Make sure to monitor the unit and periodically empty up the water collected by it. Its reservoir is located on the backside of the unit.
Using Desiccant Products
Whenever you buy garments or shoes, you must have noticed the small packets of silica gel inside them. This is because the silica gel is extremely good at absorbing moisture. Besides dehumidifiers and fans, visit your local hardware store and buy desiccant products. Most common are available in tubs or sachets of silica gel. Place the gel near walls or the flooring that have absorbed moisture.
Final Words
Remember if the water has seeped or soaked into the sub-floor or the drywall, one of the best ways to overcome it is calling a professional restoration company asap. They are experts and have access to all the equipment, knowledge and experience to handle any scale of water damage. Moreover, they help to remove and restore items and materials that has the potential to develop mold. Beware that the longer porous materials are often exposed to water saturation will increase the deterioration of any such materials. They can also cause structural instability over the course of time. Majority of these materials are also not salvageable, especially the backing of the carpet, insulation and adhesives.
A professional restoration company will employ thermal imaging technology, moisture detectors and professional-grade equipment during the water clean up process. This will prevent any future damage and aids in safe-guarding your health and durability of your home.
