Water Damage Disaster Clean-Up Tips In Your Home
Water damage in your home can be situated in one small area of your home or it can include a large area of your floors, walls, and wall interiors, leaving a large amount of damage and clean-up needed. No matter the type of water damage and the extent it includes, you should take some steps to make sure you handle the situation yourself or by hiring professional water damage restoration services. Here are some helpful hints to help you tackle a water damage disaster in your home to clean it up and restore your property.
Identify the Water Source
If you are experiencing a flood disaster that has come into your home due to excess precipitation or nearby flooded rivers or lakes, you will need to work on moving the water from your home as soon as the flood water recedes. Then, because it is a natural disaster, you can contact local disaster resources to get help with cleaning up in your yard and in your home.
However, if your home has a broken water line or a leak that has caused materials and surfaces in your home to become saturated, investigate the area until you can find out where the moisture has come from. This may be from a leaking pipe in the wall, a crack in your foundation, or a leak through your attic and roof. After you have found the source of the water leak you can take steps to repair and patch up the leak and then restore your home interior.
Keep an Eye on Specific Areas
After you have located the source of your water leak problem, you can start the clean-up work. Cleaning up after a water leak and its damage may include disinfecting surfaces that are contaminated from sewage and other outside contaminants. But you will also need to watch out for mold growth.
Mold growth on water damaged surfaces can begin as quickly as a couple of days, so it is essential you begin your clean-up to include a thorough drying-out of the areas. Watch out for areas prone to moisture saturation, as they absorb water quickly but may not dry out as quickly as a tile floor will, for example. Check drywall, plaster, wood, and insulation, and also check your home's HVAC for moisture, as it can spread mold through your home through the ventilation. Remove and dispose of drywall and plaster immediately along with carpet padding and carpeting that you cannot dry thoroughly. These materials will hold in moisture and promote mold growth.