Flooding is a serious issue that not only causes damage to the aesthetic appeal of the house but also results in health concerns if you do not take action on time. In some cases, flooding may be inevitable and there is nothing much you can do other than prepare yourself for how you are going to fix it. There Is no doubt that flooding can be a difficult situation to deal with but if you know what to do, it will be a lot easier for you to handle it and perform the restoration process including mold remediation. Below is the process of drying out your home after a flood by sharing.
Remove Standing Water And Call The Insurance Company
The first thing you are going to do when it comes to drying out your house after a flood is start removing water. If possible, ask a friend or family member to give you a helping hand. Keep in mind that it is going to take some time and effort to get rid of all the water in the house especially if the house is big.
So, you should not try to hurry the process. At the same time, you should also call your insurance company. Document every single detail and damage so that you can share it with them. If the drains in your house are blocked, make sure to remove the blockage for the water to make its way out.
You wouldn’t want to ignore and wait for people to come help you with your house as flood water can cause mold and fungi. The longer the water stays in your house, the more the chances of mold taking place. The problem with mold is not just respiratory issues but also the fact that you will have to work extra hard and spend more time dealing with it.
Air Out Your Home
The next most important thing you need to do is air out your home. This means that you will need to turn on the fans, open the windows, and let the air circulate to help remove moisture and humidity. Make sure to remove the curtains and let in as much light and air as possible.
If you have a dehumidifier, you can use it too. An important factor you need to consider when turning on electric appliances is ensuring the flooding has not caused any damage to the electrical system of the house.
If you have encountered an extreme flood, you should first check the wires for damages as turning on the appliances will result in electrocution.
Save Your Belongings And Remove Obstacles
Saving your belongings and removing obstacles significantly help while clearing out the house that is recently flooded. Most people tend to be lazy and wait for help until they can move the objects around but the fact of the matter is that removing any obstacles will make it a lot easier for you to work in corners and areas that are otherwise inaccessible or reachable.
Furthermore, you will need to make sure to give these items and objects a thorough wash as well. The reason is even if you succeed in removing the flooded water, the water, humidity, and moisture absorbed by the items in your house will still become a breeding ground for mold.
Once you have cleaned the flooded items, cover them using plastic wraps and store them in a high place so that in case of another flooding, they will be out of reach.
Clean The Walls
The walls are one of the most important areas that need attention and cleaning. The reason is that if you were to ignore the floodwater, moisture would seep through the cracks and ruin the finish. This is going to add to your troubles as you will have to hire an expert to fix the damage.
But if you were to remove the water within time and clean the walls, there is a huge chance you will be able to save the finish. Keep in mind that mold can also grow inside the walls. To clean the walls, you can use a mixture of bleach and water if the water damage is not severe.
Make sure to use a sponge or rag with this mixture to prevent any bleach from remaining on the walls. Then, use a clean cloth to wipe the entire wall down. If you observe that some areas are slightly more affected than others, you will have to repeat the cleaning process multiple times until everything looks perfect. If there is already mold visible, then consider mold removal Rockville.
Clean The Carpets
If you are someone who likes having carpets or rugs in their house, you will need to hand them over to a cleaning company to thoroughly clean your wet rugs and carpets. You might think that cleaning carpets and rugs is going to be an easy task but it is not. It takes a significant amount of time for the carpets to wash, clean, and dry.
Since carpets are a perfect source for the mold to reproduce, you will need to get them to a professional immediately. This is because they will thoroughly dry it out before returning which will eliminate the chances of mold regrowing as well.
Damage Inspection
Once you have cleared out the floodwater and removed any obstacles, you will need to perform a thorough inspection of the house to note down the damage. This is an extremely important step as flood water can find its way into areas that you cannot even expect.
The last thing you would want is working day and night to dry out the house only to find out that some areas still contain water that is finding its way into the dried-out areas. For instance, if the floors are damaged, you will need to replace the tiles. If the damage seems to be minor, you can go for repairs.
As a general rule of thumb, you should replace anything or everything that has been damaged due to flood water as it may stimulate mold growth in the future. Also, let your appliance dry as well. Later, inspect your appliances for damage.
How To Prepare For Flooding?
Sometimes, floods can be so rapid and quick that homeowners are not able to respond. If you live in a region that experiences floods every now and then every year, you should prepare yourself and remove any items and objects that might later need cleaning.
This will save you an ample amount of time, effort, and expense. Flash floods happen to take place within a blink of an eye and there is nothing much you can do to protect yourself in such situations. However, if you were to move things around and be ready for the post-flooding process, it would be a lot easier for you to be mentally ready.
If possible, try to contact the cleaning company and insurance before the flooding takes place so that they are informed as well. Otherwise, they can get extremely busy after the flooding, which could take a lot of time to settle down.
Conclusion
Drying out your house after flooding can be a time-consuming process, but if you are already prepared for it, you won’t panic or feel anxious about what is going to happen both during and after the flood. Follow the tips mentioned above and set a little budget aside for a water damage restoration Gaithersburg team to help you with the drying process as well.
