Water Damage Problems and How to Solve Them

5/19/2017 (Permalink)

Water Damage Problems and How to Solve Them

Water damage in homes can result from leaky dishwashers, overflow from washing machines, leaking pipes, or clogged toilets. Water damage can also result from flood water or storms. Flood water in a business premise, such as a hotel, can be caused by broken bathroom pipes, overflowing sinks, and runoff water from a storm.

What to do if you have water damage

Water damage can create massive damages to one's property when least expected. Several mitigation measures can be taken depending on the extent of destruction caused. Water damage mitigation is the process in which the damage caused by water is reduced after a flood. The mitigation process also helps to prevent further damage by taking appropriate actions.

Before contacting restoration experts, one should take the following measures after suffering the problem of flood water in your home:
• Stop the water at its source
• Electricity should be turned off.
• One should avoid walking on wet carpet
• Anything that can be spoiled by moisture should be removed from the wet areas.
• Hands should be washed after handling damaged items
• With flood water in your home, vacuuming should be avoided to avoid electrocution
• One should not walk on still waters to avoid electrocution or contamination.

Delaying mitigation services can result in more damage to one's property. For instance, flood water in a business premise can lead to significant losses as one misses out on customers. In addition to the losses, the property can be destroyed implying that one would need more money to restore the structures that were damaged by water. Similarly, flood water in your home will initiate decomposition of your wooden floors and furniture.

Flood damage can occur any time of the year and can cause catastrophic damage to one's property. Different projects can be undertaken to help protect property from it. For instance, it's imperative for one to understand his or her flood risk. With the knowledge, one can avoid floodplain areas or take steps that minimize risks of a flood damage. Knowing one's base flood elevation also helps one to consider building structures that are elevated to reduce chances of flood damage. In addition to ensuring that buildings' exposure to flooding is low, knowing the risk of flood damage can also help a person to consider purchasing flood insurance.

To minimize the damage that results from flood water in a business premise, the following steps are helpful:
• Raising of the electrical system to help reduce potential fire break out from circuits.
• Raising the heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment or building a flood-proof wall around the equipment.
• Directing flood water away from one's property to prevent future damage
• Installing sewer backflow valves to block drain pipes and prevent water flowing back into the house.

After a flood, water cleanup is vital because it helps save parts of a property that have not been destroyed. Water cleanup should be done by certified technicians to stop any mold problem from arising. Mold can be dangerous if not keenly removed because it causes further damage to your house. Apart from destroying your home, mold can also cause severe allergic reactions. Professional water cleanup services also minimize the chances of contamination as water restoration companies use trained personnel.

How to undertake a water cleanup exercise at home after a flood

Flooding is a common natural disaster that strikes homes and businesses and is caused by natural disasters like storms or heavy rain. To recover from flood water in home, the basement, furniture, walls, appliances, floors, and ceilings should be checked as they are likely to be affected. The restoration of these areas should be handled by experienced water mitigation and restoration companies through a step-by-step process for the best results.

Firstly, an inspection is carried out to determine the best action needed to solve the harmful effects of a flood. Secondly, water is removed from all wet materials and places. The treatment of any wet surfaces to avoid contamination is done. Thirdly, drying and stabilizing is done. Equipment such as dehumidifiers and wood floor drying systems are used in this process to produce dry air and increase air circulation.

While drying, the environment is observed daily and results noted. The level of flood water in a business premise must be controlled to prevent mold growth. Drying may take 2 to 4 days depending on the materials being dried. The fourth process is re-assessment of the damage to make sure that all wetness has been removed. The fifth step is the reconstruction of the building and other items. The dwelling place should be safe and healthy after the reconstruction. Visit http://www.SERVPROsouthjordannorthdraper.com for more information on water damage.