Water Damage Clean Up – A How To Guide

Homeowners who have been unfortunate enough to experience water damage throughout their home understand how daunting of a task water damage clean up can be. Whether your home flooded due to negligence, weather elements, or a leaky pipe, water has the ability to cause a large amount of damage in a little amount of time.

If you are currently experiencing the dreaded task of performing water damage clean up in a specific area in your home, make sure to follow all of the pertinent steps to proactive solve the problem and prevent further damage.

While clean up can become costly, not properly cleaning water damage immediately can prove to be costly in the long run.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Locate the Source

If the water damage was caused from a pipe or faucet in your home, you must first locate the source of the water damage. Always make sure you turn the electricity off in your home before you go searching for the cause of the water damage to avoid electrical shock. If the damage was cause by a mistake such as leaving the bathtub or sink running, stopping the flow of water is straightforward. For weather elements, such as hard rain and hail that has entered the home through a leaky roof or another exterior opening, you may not be able to stop the water flow completely but you can take action to block the water from entering your home until the rain subsides. For more complicated issues such as broken pipes, it may be more difficult to locate the root of the problem, as it may be hidden or underground. In these scenarios turn off your water until you can contact a professional to come out and examine the problem.

Step 2: Asses the Damage

After you located the source of the water damage within your home, and mitigated the potential for further loss, you will need to assess the damage. In cases where damage is minimal, you can more than likely clean up damages on your own with the right tools and equipment. For more severe cases where flooring and drywall is flooded or warped, you will need to contact a professional flood response company to assess the severity and take the proper precautions to avoid irreparable long-term mold damage. As a homeowner, it is extremely important to act quickly in regards to water damage clean up. Waiting even a short period of hours can be harmful to both your home and your health.

Step 3: Keep Drying

Get Air Moving

In cases that can be done on a do-it-yourself basis, the first thing you must do to reduce the chance of mold is get a breeze of fresh air running throughout the home. If the raining has subsided, open the windows in your home, turn on ceiling fans and bring in additional high-powered fans to lessen drying time. Not only will this quicken the drying process, it will also reduce the chances of your home smelling like mildew.

Use Dehumidifier

In the process of drying and airing out your floors and walls, set up a quality dehumidifier to take the moisture out of the flowing air. Even when your home seems like it is completely dried out, it is important to keep the dehumidifier running to get the water molecules you cannot see or feel. Check the tank often and clean it when necessary. While this step is often overlooked in the clean up process, it is extremely important to reduce the chances of mold and mildew.

Step 4: Throw Away Damaged Valuables

While the fans and dehumidifier are running look around your home for any damaged valuables including papers, bills, photographs, and books. For items that can be replaced and hold no significant sentimental value to you, throw them away and replace them at a later date to eliminate clutter. Other paperwork that is important may be photocopied if still legible. For photographs and items that cannot be replaced, place them in a freezer and see if the items can be preserved.

Step 5: Water Damage Cleaning Tools

A wet/dry vacuum is one of the most important tools in water damage clean up. If you have wood floors you will need to suction up as much water as possible as quickly as possible to prevent warping. For carpets and furniture, clean up quickly, however you can allow a small period of time for the home to air out in between time. Treat surfaces that have been submerged with water with mild detergents to kill bacteria and prevent odor. Keep your home ventilated until you are sure everything is dry. If there are areas with extensive damage you may need to hire a professional for clean up.

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