3 Tips on What to Do After Water Damage in House
3 Tips on What to Do After Water Damage in House
Many homeowners are confused when they found their home submerged in standing water. A flood is a common thing to occur so you must know how to deal with it when it happens. This will enable you to restore your home back to livable condition with minimal expenses incurred. The following are 3 tips on what to do after water damage in the house.
1. Disconnect the Power
First of all, you should contact the power company to disconnect the power. After the power is shut down, the electrician will check and make sure that it is safe for you to enter the house. Some appliances such as the furnace, water heater, kitchen appliances, and other electrical items are still connected to the electrical system so it can be dangerous to enter without turning off the power.
2. Remove Standing Water
Water damage cleanup should occur within 1 – 2 days after you get permission to enter your home. You can use plastic buckets to remove the standing water. Using a plastic bucket to remove the standing water can be physically strenuous so make sure you have the strength to do so. An alternative is to use a wet/dry vacuum to remove the water. A wet/dry vacuum can remove 5 – 10 gallons of water per minute.
If the flood is on the upper floor, you can use a squeegee to push out the water. Large scale flooding can be removed with a pump that is installed at the lowest area. When most of the water has been removed, you can use a mop to soak up the water. The water should be pumped out slowly; one foot at a time to ensure the basement wall won’t collapse. You can get help from a professional water damage recovery services if you are afraid of making mistake when removing the standing water
3. Dry the Area
The cleanup task is not yet completed after the floodwater is removed. It takes a long time for the surface to dry on its own. You will have to use a dehumidifier, or fan to air dry it. The walls should be opened to reduce humidity. A dehumidifier can dry the area at the fastest rate. It can quickly remove moisture from wood and moisture deeply embedded in the material.
It can be turned off as soon as the moisture test shows the room is dry enough. Some homeowners close all the doors and windows and turn on the air conditioning to dry the area. Saturated items should be dried separately outdoor without the use of a dehumidifier. If these items are soaked with gray water, you will have to discard it because it is permanently contaminated. Getting these items outdoor is important if it has become saturated for 48 hours.