Flooding can wreak havoc on your home and lead to a huge restoration bill. Water damage can be caused by many different things such as leaking pipes, burst sewer lines, and natural disasters.

There are three levels of water damage, clean water, gray water, and black water. This article will cover Tips for Water Damage Restoration to help homeowners mitigate damage while waiting on a professional cleaning company.

1. Remove All Standing Water

The first step in the water damage restoration process is removing all of the excess water. This can be done by using buckets, mops, or wet-dry vacuums. If you are able to remove the majority of the water within 24 hours, you can prevent a lot of problems like mold and mildew from developing.

If you allow water to linger in an area for more than 24 hours, then the building materials will start to weaken, and mold and mildew will begin to grow. The presence of these pathogens will also create a health risk for anyone in the building.

Taking out all of the water will help your restoration go much more smoothly later on. After the majority of water is removed, it is a good idea to open windows and use large fans and dehumidifiers to promote airflow and speed up the drying process.

2. Open Up the Space

While you’re removing standing water and checking for structural stability, you should also begin to air out the space. If it’s safe to do so (and you have tarps or plywood covered in tar paper ready), open the windows to let in fresh air and circulate it through the space. This will dry out carpeting, rugs and other porous materials and prevent mildew. If it’s too dangerous to open the windows, use pedestal fans, blower fans and dehumidifiers to get the air moving. This is a process called mitigation, and it’s the first step before restoration begins. You’ll need to do it quickly to limit damage.

3. Remove Structural Components

Whether it’s due to flooding or a leaky pipe, water damage must be dealt with promptly. Otherwise, the consequences can be severe. For example, if a porous material like carpet or insulation becomes soaked in water, it will quickly lose its shape and develop mildew.

The same is true for wood and other structural components. If they are exposed to water for more than 24 hours, they’ll begin to mold. This is not only unhealthy, but it can also weaken the structure of your home or business.

Therefore, you should remove any porous materials and replace them with new ones as soon as possible. You should also check the condition of your floors and walls. Those that are severely warped or rotting will need to be replaced.

4. Disinfect Everything

Flood water may contain raw sewage, silt and other contaminants that encourage the growth of molds, bacteria and other dangerous substances. The best way to avoid health risks is to disinfect the entire area before proceeding with water damage restoration. This can be done with a bleach solution or other homemade disinfectants.

Once the standing water is removed, it’s important to begin circulating air in the affected areas to reduce moisture and jump-start the drying process. This can be done by opening windows, using high-powered shop fans and air movers and utilizing dehumidifiers.

It’s crucial to work fast when dealing with water damage. Wet materials can begin developing serious problems like mold within 24 hours. It’s therefore important to contact a professional right away.

5. Replace Wood

If porous materials such as carpet, insulation and fabric are left to soak for a prolonged period of time they will begin to shrink and warp. Additionally, they may develop mildew that can be harmful to health. As such, they should be among the first things to be removed from a flooded area.

It is also crucial that the electricity in a flooded space be shut off before starting cleanup. Next, it is necessary to ensure that everything is dry and that any weakened structural components like floor joists are replaced as soon as possible.

Contact us:

Service Restore Pro
3300 County Rd 10 Minneapolis MN, 55429
612-488-9558