Water damage can be crippling for homeowners. No matter how much you prepare your house for foundational damage, there are certain things that cannot be prevented. In the case of flood cleanup, you may find yourself upstream without a paddle.
This situation can be a frightening scenario and without proper attention and plan of action, could result in detrimental, long terms effects. At ProCare Restoration, our goal is to provide people with services that create solutions to seemingly irreparable situations. With that in mind, we always aim to provide answers and knowledge to those seeking out information when they find themselves in a bind.
In the case of flood cleanup, we want those in a troubling situation to have answers they can act on quickly and efficiently. That’s why we decided to create the ultimate flood cleanup guide. In order to ensure the best possible outcome, there are measures you need to take within the first 48 hours.
What to do in the first 48 hours
Act Quickly
One of the worst things you can do after your house has been flooded is nothing. By letting time go by without acting on the built up water, you are causing further damage to the structural integrity of your home and allowing mold spores to accumulate. This is not only a threat to your actual home, but also to those living inside.
Mold spores start to grow typically within a 48-72 hour range. To be on the safe side, you should have the water removed and dried out before that 48-hour mark. We recommend hiring a professional flood removal service (like ProCare Restoration) so that you have the situation handled properly and effectively.
Assess the Damage and Take Pictures
An important start to any type of home restoration is to understand what in your home can be salvaged and what is ruined. Items like wet clothes or expensive rugs could be worth the effort. However, items like mattresses and drywall are more than likely a lost cause. If there are items that you want to keep and think you can restore, it’s best to have a remediator check and see if this is even possible. Even though the items may seem restorable, there could be mold and harmful bacteria infesting the items.
Another important step in flood cleanup is to document the damage that was done. This means taking pictures of everything that is affected by flood and water damage. Failing to take pictures could cause your insurance coverage to decrease, resulting in paying more money out of pocket.
Be Cautious Before Entering
While it’s important to act quickly, that doesn’t mean to act carelessly. You need to be extremely cautious when entering your home after flood damage. This means disconnecting any power outlets and electronics that are in the affected area. If the water rises above the electrical outlets, you could find yourself in an extremely dangerous situation when walking in the water. Go to the fuse box and turn off all of the connections before entering your home.
Call Flood Removal Specialist and Mitigate Mold Damage
As we stated before, mold starts to grow and fester within 48 hours of water damage. Because of this, you want to secure the safety of your home as fast as you can. By following all of the aforementioned steps, you’re on the right path to combating long-lasting problems.
However, we recommend that your next step is to hire a mold remediation and/or water damage specialist. At ProCare Restoration, we make it our responsibility to fully restore homes affected by flood and water damage. We take great pride in knowing that we can provide tangible solutions to your problems. That’s why we recommend hiring a specialist because companies like ours have extensive experience in mitigating potential issues.
By hiring a professional home restoration team, you no longer have to stress about how to remove the water, how to dry the area, or how to disinfect the bacteria. Restoration companies have the ability to handle all of those situations and leave your house knowing that any hazardous conditions are no longer an issue.
How to treat Certain Areas of your home
Kitchen
-take all glass, china, and other type dinnerware and soak in disinfecting solution (2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach per gallon of hot water) for 10 minutes and then let air-dry
-for silverware, metal, pots, pans, etc., boil in water (no bleach) for 10 minutes
-all countertops and cupboards must be cleaned with a chlorine bleach disinfecting solution
Ceilings and Walls
-remove all wallboard, plaster, and paneling to the level when the flood water has reached
-in order to save plaster and paneling, affected area must be thoroughly dried and have constant air circulation until no longer moist
-depending on your insulation, there are different ways to treat the affected area. Contact your local restoration company or insurance coverage to find out best possible solution for your home
Furniture
-remove all types of furniture (beds, rugs, clothes, etc.) from inside the home and place outside to dry right away.
-any furniture that is upholstered and has water damage should be cleaned by professionals or thrown away
-any mattresses with flood water infiltrated inside it should be thrown away
-solid wood furniture has the ability to be restored unless extremely damaged
-any books, pictures, or documents can be frozen and cleaned but dried very carefully and tediously
Carpeting
-remove water from carpets and dry as quickly as possible
-if it is found to be contaminated with sewage or bacteria infested water, remove and discard
-if the carpet has been soaked for over a day, discard immediately
-try to rent an industrial vacuum and fans to help dry carpet as quickly as possible
While having to restore your home after a flood is far from ideal, we hope these tips help you prevent a temporarily bad situation turn into a permanent problem. If you have any questions about flood cleanup or need help, please reach out to us at ProCare Restoration and we’d be more than happy to assist!
