Water damage can cause much more than the visible damage to your property. It can cause growth of mold, diseases, and rot your furniture. It can also be damaging your wall and metallic objects. If there is any type of water damage to your property, you should take immediate action.
This guide will provide you valuable tips for water damage restoration.
1. Safety First
The first step to water damage restoration is cleaning up. If the level of damage is not intense, you may think of doing this yourself. But make sure to protect yourself from the bacteria and mold by wearing gloves, masks and proper footwear.
2. Remove Mud
Scrape or shovel off any mud from the floors, walls and furniture. This should be done before the mud can dry.
Then clean the walls using a hose. Even the ceiling may need to be cleaned.
3. Remove Damaged Content
Remove all the damaged content before starting the cleaning process. You will need help and make sure everyone is wearing the safety gear.
The appliances like refrigerator may not be damaged. All they may require is washing and drying. Appliances usually don’t get damaged unless they were working when water entered them.
The damaged content can include your personal items, the carpet, furniture, and even building material.
If you think the task can be daunting for you, you should get the help of a water damage restoration company.
4. Remove Water
The amount of water in your property can sometimes be too much for you to remove yourself. A professional restoration company can help you not only in removing it, but drying the surfaces.
When the amount of water is little, you can use a vacuum for the purpose. This will still require some time before all the water is removed.
5. Disinfecting
Once the surfaces are dried-off, the next step is to clean and disinfect everything. This includes the floor and walls too. The disinfectant will improve the living space.
It is recommended to use some professional products instead of bleach solution. Green disinfecting products can be safe and still be effective.
However, if you can’t find such products you may use diluted bleach for cleaning appliances, floors, walls, and some household content. It can help in controlling the odor.
6. Improve Ventilation
Once you have cleaned and disinfected the area, it is recommended to improve ventilation. It is extremely important to improve the air movement to prevent microbial growth. There are many factors that increase the risk, including:
- Moisture
- Temperature
- Availability of moist “food sources”
If you don’t improve ventilation, it can create the perfect environment after water damage for microbial growth. If it happens, you will have to get the help of professional mold remediation services.
The drying process must be started as quickly as possible to prevent such a situation.
Key Tips
There are many more things to be kept in mind with water damage restoration. This includes the following:
- All the wooden furniture is recommended to be dried outdoors. Make sure to remove any moving parts before drying.
- If the basement is flooded, it is recommended to pump out the water gradually. This is important to prevent water damage.
- All food-related equipment must be washed and sterilized properly before using.
- Right precautionary measures must be taken to before working around water to prevent any risks of electric shocks.
So make sure to follow these tips for an effective and safe water damage restoration process.
============================================================
Author Bio:
The Author is a veteran water and fire damage restoration specialist with years of experience in Calgary and greater Alberta area. According to him safety is the first step to any restoration task. Thorough drying and anti-microbial measures are also important to prevent any potential health risks.
============================================================
