In the United States, nearly 15 million homes have an immediate risk of flooding. Because flooding can cause water damage to your home, it is important that you prioritize immediate water removal from your home.
Do you want to learn more about water damage restoration services, water damage clean-up, and how to remove water from your house after a flood? Keep reading this article about home restoration!
Understand Insurance Coverage
The first thing you should do in the event of a flood is file your flood insurance claim. Make sure you understand your insurance coverage and what your flood insurance covers.
Often, these policies only cover the things that were last because of the flood. You can also often find a restoration company that your insurance will cover to help with water removal and water damage.
By contacting your insurance agency, you can file a claim, learn more about your coverage, and find the best options to help you in this stressful situation.
Check Electrical Systems
One of the first things you should do before you enter your house after it has flooded is to check the electrical systems. You want to make sure it is safe to be in the house and that there are no electrical hazards that you should worry about.
Electrical systems that have damage from a flood can lead to gas leaks and fire hazards. Turn off the gas and electric services before you go inside for the first time and until an electrician clears your home.
Assess the Type of Damage
There are many types of water damage. It is important that you assess the damage so you know how to best proceed with water removal.
For example, if you have low-level damage, it may be due to a leaking pipe and can be easily cleaned up and fixed. Medium level damage is a bit harder to work with.
This type of damage usually results in soaked materials that need to be cleaned more thoroughly. Finally, high-level water damage is usually caused by natural disasters and can lead to structural damage and other large issues.
Immediately Remove Excess Water
Next, you need to remove the water from your home as quickly as possible. This is important to do as quickly as you can so you can prevent mold and mildew from growing. If the flood isn't too deep, you can use an extractor to pull up the water from your flooring.
By immediately removing the excess water, you can keep your floors in better condition and will prevent further issues from coming up. This also allows you to start salvaging your belongings and will allow you to start drying everything out as quickly as you can.
Carpet cleaning machines can also help you remove any excess water from carpets and padding.
Pull up Carpets and Padding
Once the water is removed from your floor, you should pull up the carpets and padding. While you may not want to do this, it is a vital step to protect your flooring long-term.
Pulling up the carpets and padding allows the subfloor to dry more thoroughly. It will also prevent the subfloor from warping, rotting, and more.
Turn on Fans and Air Conditioning
After you have removed all the water you can, you want to dry your carpet and subfloor as quickly as possible. If your home is electrically safe, you can use fans and your air conditioning unit to help dry the flooring. Dehumidifiers are also a great tool to use because they will help remove any unwanted moisture from the air.
If you are unable to use your electricity, make sure you open windows and ventilate your rooms as much as possible.
Remove Damaged Materials
Sometimes you are simply not able to save your carpet or flooring. If they were exposed to sewage water or were damaged beyond repair, it is best to remove the damaged materials from your home. Because they are likely soaking wet, it is best to get these out of your house to prevent them from growing mold or mildew.
Use Disinfectant Cleaner
Once everything in your home is dry, you should use disinfectant cleaner to clean all of your surfaces. Again, using a disinfectant will help reduce mold and other bacterial growth.
It is best to wash your home from top to bottom to ensure you reach each of your surfaces. Once you have finished cleaning, make sure you dry each surface again.
Prevent Mold Growth on Furniture
Finally, once your home is clean you want to do everything you can to prevent mold growth on your furniture. You can take your furniture outside to clean and then let it dry in indirect sunlight.
Drying your furniture outside will allow the sun to kill any mold that is growing and you can do your best to salvage the furniture that wasn't contaminated by floodwater.
Find a Home Restoration Company for Water Removal and Water Damage
If you have an emergency water damage situation, it is vital that you get it taken care of as quickly as possible. Otherwise, it can lead to more significant damage, mold growth, and more.
Are you looking for a water damage restoration service to help you with water removal as you recover after a flood? Complete Fire and Water Restoration can help! We are a home restoration company that specializes in water damage repair, mold remediation, and more. Contact our team today to learn more about our water restoration services and to see how we can help you with water removal and water damage after a flood.
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