Have water damage in your home? Follow our handy water restoration damage tips to remove water from your property as soon as possible.
Nobody wants to experience water damage in their homes. Alas, it’s something that can happen to anyone, at any time. While you can take steps to reduce the risk of water damage, there’s no way to eliminate the threat completely.
The most important thing is that you know what to do should water damage occur in your home. With that in mind, we’ve put together a collection of handy water damage restoration tips about what to do should you discover water damage in your home or business. Let’s take a look.
Stop The Flow of Water
To begin, you’ll need to make sure that no more water damage can occur. To do this, you’ll likely need to turn off your home’s entire water supply.
Pro tip: make sure everyone in your family knows where the water mains are located and how to turn them off. When there’s running water, every minute that the valve is left open counts.
If the leak continues even after you’ve turned off the water mains, then you’ll need to call an emergency plumber as soon as possible.
If the water damage is caused by a natural disaster (say, heavy rainfall), then turning off the water valve may not be necessary, but it’s best to do so just to be safe.
And Turn Off the Electricity
Shut off the electrical power to the property before you go into the water-damaged area. In doing so, you’ll eliminate the risk of the dangers posed by water and exposed wires. You’ll want to have a torch handy, especially if the damaged area does not receive natural light (for instance, the basement).
Don’t attempt to turn on water-damaged electrical problems (such as a TV), even if you’re just checking that they still work. They should be inspected by an expert first.
What Kind of Water Are You Dealing With?
It’s possible to remedy some water damage yourself. However, you should only attempt to if you’re dealing with the right kind of water damage. Water is divided into three different categories, including:
- Clean Water Damage
- Gray Water Damage
- Black Water Damage
Clean water refers to uncontaminated water, such as water that would come out of a fully functional tap. You can attempt to clean up clean water damage yourself (if you wish) since it is considered safe. Gray water refers to processed water, like the type you’d find in a dishwasher. It can contain chemicals, so you’ll either need to wear protective equipment or leave the job to the experts.
Black water refers to heavily polluted water, such as water that contains sewage. Do not attempt to clean black water damage yourself.
Be Mindful of Mold
If possible, inspect the affected area for signs of mold. Mold can begin to develop within twenty-four hours and will need to be handled as soon as possible. Some mold can be harmful to humans, but even if it isn’t, it won’t go away on its own. If you notice small signs of mold, try to remove the affected item. If the mold growth is more extensive, then call an expert immediately.
Remove/Dispose of Affected Items
Your personal items may have been affected by water damage. Unfortunately, not all of them will be salvageable. It’s best to take photos of any items that have been severely water-damaged before throwing them away — it’ll help with any insurance claims that you submit.
Remove any lightly affected items from the room. This will help to prevent further damage to your belongings and can also help with the drying process. Unless mold is present, it’s important to encourage as much airflow to the space as possible.
Get Drying
It may be possible to clean up the water yourself, depending on the extent of the water. If there is only a small amount of standing water, then mopping or sweeping the water may work. Once you’ve removed the bulk of the water, you can use towels to soak up the remaining water. Running a fan or dehumidifier, or opening windows/doors to encourage consistent airflow is also recommended.
Work With Experts
Homeowners can take steps to limit water damage, and can also, in some cases, be involved in the restoration process. However, if the water damage is extensive or poses a risk (for instance, mold, electrical dangers, black water), then you’ll need to work with a trusted water restoration professional.
Experiencing water damage at your home or business? First an expert water restoration professional in your local area by using the handy search search offered here at Restoration Rapid.