Flooding can be the most expensive natural disaster in the United States. That’s because water damage can cost homeowners thousands of dollars in repair.
Restoration services are helpful. But depending on the damage, they may not be necessary. In some cases, there might be some cleanup you’re able to do on your own before asking for help.
If you want to save yourself some money, follow these water damage cleanup tips.
Water Damage Cleanup Tips
Wondering what to do if your house floods? Here are some things you can do before calling in the professionals.
1. Safety First
If you’re dealing with flood damage, the first thing you should do is make sure it’s safe to go in. Practicing post-flood safety is vital.
Caution can sometimes be an afterthought once the initial flooding is over. Injuries can still happen once the immediate danger is gone. If you’re able to go inside the house, keep windows and doors open. It helps circulate airflow and decrease the amounts of carbon dioxide you inhale.
If you’re able to enter your house, take photos before you move anything. Taking pictures will help you when it’s time to talk to insurance agencies.
2. Remove Water
Once you assess the safety of entering the home, take a look at the water level. Before you can do anything, you’ll need to remove the water.
If water levels have diminished, you may only need to soak up the water with towels and large room fans. If there’s more, rent a water vacuum. The sooner you remove moisture, the less chance there is for the setting in of mold.
Mud and other things will also be present. Shovel it all out along with draining the water.
3. Move Things Out
After you’ve taken pictures and removed water, you’ll need to take out the damaged items. Furniture, loose carpet, and anything touched by water needs taking out.
You should remove any wooden furniture or items before anything else. Carpet, clothing, and fabrics aren’t as perishable as wood can be.
If the water damage isn’t as severe as you thought, the house may still be livable. Even so, there are still things you should do before settling in. Check the food in the refrigerator and throw away anything that’s spoiled. The same goes for anything in the pantries.
Your main concern should be throwing out anything that has the potential for mold.
4. Clean Up the Affected Areas
Flood waters carry a lot of bacteria and gross materials it’s picked up. So, once the water and furniture are gone, you need to disinfect.
Use hot water to wash every surface touched by flood waters. Use the hot water several times until it looks clean. Then use diluted bleach solutions on those same areas. You can also buy disinfectants from the store that are effective at getting rid of bacteria.
Call in the Professionals
Water damage cleanup tips are useful, but flood damage might be more than you can handle alone. If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals. Find water damage restoration companies who can help you restore your home.
Learn how to stop water damage before it happens by reading these prevention methods!