Water Damage Restoration - Five ways to deal with water damage in the home
No one wants to deal with a flood, but most of us will at some point in our lives. Here are the basics on what to do when water damage strikes.
– Shut off the power or turn off the main breaker if possible and ensure that it is not turned back on.
– If you have substantial flooding, remember that electricity and water don’t mix! Flooding can cause short circuits which could send sparks flying from light switches and cause electrocution.
– Emergency services should be called regardless, but if you suspect electrical problems then emergency services should be contacted immediately at 911 . The longer electricity runs through standing water; the more likely there will be an issue since wires corrode over time creating the potential for a short circuit.
– Water damage is never clean and can cause illness, especially if it sits on a surface where there are mold spores present. The best way to stop the spread of this is to start a hot air fan that will blow or suck any remaining water from your home or office. This will help to ensure that all of the standing water has been removed before beginning repairs.
– It’s important not to strip out cabinets, remove drywall, etc. until the source of the leak has been identified and repaired so as not to add additional water damage at a later date.
Water damage is one of the hardest losses to fix because it can happen without notice. Water leaks are sometimes silent and hidden behind walls or under flooring for days before anyone notices; exposing your belongings to extensive damage by seeping into carpets, subflooring, insulation, drywall and other surfaces that absorb water like sponges.
WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION VS. LOSS MITIGATION
Water damage restoration restores items to the way they were before an event happened, while loss mitigation reduces or eliminates a loss from occurring at all. Water damage restoration is needed once a property has been damaged by penetrant moisture, whereas loss mitigation is necessary for elements that can be saved and put back into function versus those that are beyond saving and need to be replaced.
LOSS MITIGATION MEANS PREVENTION
It’s important to both prevent water from entering your home as well as preventing water from exiting your home in order to avoid any type of water damage. Prevention means controlling what goes into your house as much as possible, such as purchasing humidifiers for indoor plants or practicing good housekeeping by removing leaves that could fall into your gutters during the autumn months. Water Damage Restoration in Houston
WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION IN HOUSTON IN TEXAS
Water damage restoration is an important process for residents in the Houston, Texas area where flooding is common during the spring and summer seasons. Many homes are damaged due to leaky pipes or appliances, malfunctioning HVAC systems, natural disasters like hurricanes and tropical storms, or man-made disasters such as burst water mains. If you’ve experienced any of these types of situations—as well as less extreme problems like leaks from bedrooms, bathrooms or crawl spaces—you should consider hiring a professional to do water damage restoration in Houston after it has been dried out to avoid further damage.
If you cannot shut off the power and gas, turn on all fans and open doorways and windows to allow the water to dry more quickly.
Clean-up spills immediately. Be sure that everyone is wearing rubber gloves when handling contaminated materials or cleaning surfaces. Rinse spilled liquids from countertops, carpets, upholstery, and hardwood floors with clean water. Soak up any remaining liquid with paper towels or rags; discard in a covered trash container.
Materials such as dirt, sand, ceiling tiles, wood flooring and sheet rock can be disposed of using any regular garbage pick-up service or taken to one of the city’s four landfill sites:
Do not attempt to salvage household items that were damaged by flood water.
Throw away food exposed to flood water or any container that contains flood water. Discard cardboard boxes, books and magazines that have been wet. Inspect all items carefully before throwing them away; discard anything that has come into contact with flood waters.
Throw away damaged boxes and cartons that have not been exposed to flood waters; these items can be used again after cleaning and disinfecting.
There is no standard procedure for disposing of contaminated materials generated by water damage restoration activities such as vacuuming, mopping and laundering. To determine if any special disposal methods are necessary, consult your local health department or waste management agency. Contact them in advance about proper procedures for handling hazardous wastes generated in home clean-up operations .
It may take several months for mold spores to die off naturally indoors , especially when strong concentrations of molds and moisture exist in a home ( flooding) and weather conditions prevent adequate ventilation and drying (cool, windless days and nights).
Pets are naturally drawn to water sources, but they can fall ill or hurt themselves if they play in the water.
Watch your children closely when you have a flooded home. Keep them out of any standing water and ensure that they don’t play with toys that have been soaked in floodwater. If their toys have become wet, discard them as the materials might be toxic now.
Even if something doesn’t appear to be moving, it may still be able to bite or sting you . Assume dangerous creatures like snakes or spiders are near flooding areas , even if you haven’t seen them. If possible, ask someone who is familiar with dangerous wildlife to check the area for you before entering .
Do not try to remove debris piled in front of a closed door. The water may be covering broken glass or sharp objects like nails . If you move the object, you risk injury.
If your home has flooded and it is uninhabitable, make arrangements for alternative accommodations with family or friends before the storm is over . Don’t return home until officials declare that it’s safe to do so.
Before entering your house to check for damage, don wearing rubber gloves and waterproof boots/shoes that cover your entire leg if possible . You can also wear clothing that covers most of your skin (long pants and long sleeves) if you’d prefer.