Once you evaluate the situation of water damage to your home, some important steps need to take place to make the restoration process as painless as possible. We have laid out a process for you to follow in just such an emergency.
Water damaged homes or buildings should begin by removing any water damaged items from the home like furniture, paintings, photographs, and etcetera and allowing them to dry out outside the home.
Squeeze as much water as possible out of couch cushions and try to leave them outside in the sun for as little time as possible, because sun damage can also occur if they are left exposed for too long.
If the floors of your home are covered in mud or silt, washing them with clean water is usually the only solution. Do not rush the drying of the floors or what is called warping or buckling.
If you can, remove any insulation from under the floor to allow air to circulate. Rapid drying of hardwood floors by using heating, air conditioning, or other forced air to help dry the floors can cause cupping. Completely drying them naturally can take weeks or months.
Any electrical components in the house, like AC outlets, should be replaced if the water level was high enough to damage them.
Again, make sure there is no electricity running to that area of your building or even to the entire building itself. When dealing with flooded properties, the possibility of electrocution is great.
Do not be so quick to remove all the water in your basement. The walls of the basement could collapse due to the ground outside that is still saturated with water and the water still standing in your basement could be the only thing stopping this.
After the water around the house has drained away, pump out two or three feet, mark the water level, and wait until the next day. If the water level in the basement rises, do not continue pumping out the water.
In most cases, washing wet mud away from objects with clean water before drying them is a good idea. Unless it is an antique item of special significance, this is generally the way to go.
If it does fall into the category of antique or historic, consult a specialist as quickly as possible.
Air circulation through the building is essential to drying it out entirely. Heaters should not be used and air conditioners should be used sparingly, if at all.
Forcing the building to dry unnaturally can possibly cause even more damage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats prefer "tasty" water?
By: ralph | 07-05-2007
I noticed that my cat really doesn't mind drinking his water after some food or some sand from his sandbox fell into his water bowl. Lately he started trying to drink from the toilet. I know another cat who puts her foot in the bowl when she drinks. Could it be that cats don't like the taste of pure water?
How do you remove mold from bathroom walls?
By: Lynettemi | 30-01-2007
How do you remove mold from bathroom walls?
How do i know if I have mold in the house ?
By: ashafrir | 04-10-2006
how do i know if I have mold in the house ?
Mold has worked its way underneath the caulk of my ...
By: harryr | 25-09-2006
Mold has worked its way underneath the caulk of my bathtub and it looks like I'll have to gut the caulk and recaulk it. Any advice for a first time caulker?
Mold
By: louise | 23-08-2006
mold - once water source has been removed does mold continue to grow? Recently had a founaation leak (now repaired) and thereis slight mold - had a quote of 8,000 cdn. for someone to come in and demolish and clean basement. damage is not severed - does mold continue to grow? what would you do?
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