Water damage restoration tips that you should take.
There is no point in taking water damage lightly. Because not only it can ruin your furniture and valuable things, but it can also be extremely costly, and even it can damage your house. If you can take steps immediately, you can save some of your things and minimize the damage.
Water damage restoration tips can help you to get rid of this catastrophic danger. The success of your restoration mainly depends upon the duration of floodwater stayed. Maybe the first thing to do is to move the portable furniture to a safe location quickly before it is damaged much.
In the flood-affected area, most damage is usually done to residential homes. If your home is also affected by floodwater, contact your insurance company first. This time, try to repair the damage by following our restoration guide.
Water damage restoration guide
Water damage is such a kind of problem that you cannot deal with lightly. If you have suffered from this type of problem to your house, here is a water damage restoration tips and guide that you can follow:
1. Disconnect the power immediately
Please DO NOT delay to take this step. Disconnect all electronic devices and eliminate all appliances, things, and furniture that you can move quickly. The faster you can remove stuff from water, the more likely you can save. Eliminate underlay mats, carpets, and all rugs, including tapestries. You may able to save your carpets if you can clean and disinfect them properly. Use a wet and dry vacuum to clean the carpet to make them reusable.
2. Remove the water
You cannot do the rest of the restoration work without completely removing the water. There are plenty of ways to remove water. Use brooms, buckets, and old towels to consume as much water as you can. You can pour the water into the drain as long as the sewers in your area are not get blocked. If it is not possible, then drain the water in your yard or other porous surfaces.
A vacuum will also help you to dry your home correctly. Use the best laminate floor vacuum if you have a laminated floor. Nothing is more important than drying completely to prevent mold growth at your home.
3. Move rugs, furniture, and small objects
Empty the affected area as soon as possible. Remove area rugs and keep them outside to dry. To prevent the carpet stains, you can place a piece of woodblock under the furniture legs. Wood furniture easily transfers the moisture and leave a permanent mark on the carpet or floor. The metal build furniture legs can also leave rust stains. Eliminate smaller objects like table, chair, toys, books, and other miscellaneous items from the affected area.
4. Dry the affected area
Ones you have removed water and eliminate small things, mopped up all the water from the floor and extract water from the carpet. Now use a fan and a dehumidifier to dry the area. Leave your windows open if there is no rain. It will allow you to flow the air and make faster drying. You need to dry the affected area as quickly as possible.
If you have a finished basement and drywall, then there is sad news for you. Water can ruin all. The drywall maybe crumbles, and the paper backing will turn in a great source of food for mold. If you have a skirting board, then treat them first. If it is wooden, then you may able to save them, but if it is made from compressed wood, then it probably unrecoverable.
5. Disinfect
It is an essential part of the restoration. When damage things are removed, you must disinfect the whole affected area before you begin repairing. Though there are plenty of homemade options to eliminate any bacteria, bleach is the most common solution. You can spray lightly it and wipe down the area to disinfect.
Bacteria can come through the bathroom, sewers, etc. and sometimes it can become life-threatening. So take the disinfectant seriously and carefully.
6. Stop growing mold
After disinfecting the entire area, now it is time to prevent mold growth. You should use disinfectant following the direction. After applying the thin layer, let it dry quickly. Once it dry, it will form a thin protective coating. This layer will prevent to grow any mold and will eliminate the spore roots.
For removing musty odor, if possible, use a dehumidifier. After available, the power, use air condition continuously.
If both are not possible to use, then open the windows and use fans to circulate the air.
7. Replace damaged wood
All rotten wood, severely warped wood and wood that has developed mold problems will need to be replaced. Keep aside the damage boards and clean thoroughly under them before replacing them.
If the damaged wood is the part of your house’s structural component, then be careful while replacing them because the structure needs the right support when you run your damage repair project.
8. Install new floor
From swollen floorboards to wet carpets, all are the common evidence of flood has damaged your floor. If you not sure yet, just check immediately because the moisture can be trapped underneath.
Remember that padding and underlayment are the primary suspects to get damage by water and must usually be removed. However, you can take it as an opportunity to install new waterproof flooring.
9. Replace the drywall
Do you know how much drywall has to replace it get damaged by water? In general, if drywall sagged or swelled 3 to 8 of an inch or more from its baseline, then it needs to replace the whole sheet. Otherwise, you can cut out the damaged part and repair the water-stained portion. Do not forget to inspect the insulation behind the drywall for damage.
10. Inspect the external siding
Ice dams and other roof problems can damage your rooftop and siding. These kinds of damage create the main problem of water seeping behind the siding and causes permanent damage. If this happens, you should immediately replace or remove the siding before the rot sets in.
If the damage is excessive, the ceiling and the outside wall around the house can seep water. So, it is very important to inspect thoroughly.
11. Paint your house
Once you remove or replace all damaged things, now it is time to make paint. It will remove all the stains and apply a fresh coat. This time you should seal and caulk the all-new materials to minimize any farther water problem.
12. Check your insurance
Do not forget to take photographs of damages to your house before you start repairing it. If you have significant damages, then check home insurance paper to see what kind of water-related damage repair it will cover.
If you found any option to make a claim, then act fast because time is a very important factor for insurance coverage.
Water loss can make an awful situation in many cases, so prevention is better than cure. But before you can prevent it, you should know about its various categories. Let us see.
Categories of water damage
Water damage in your house is not a joke at all. It is best to act fast as soon as you discover the loss. If you think all water losses are the same, then you are wrong. There are three different categories, and each category carries a different level of risk. You must know about these categories to apply the above-listed water damage restoration tips in your affected house. These categories are:
Category 1- Clean water
Depend on releasing source; the water of this category is clean does not pose a hazard until you consume it. But it can progressively be contaminated when it mixes with soils or building assembles. Temperature and time can promote the growth of microorganisms in water.
The sources of water damage Category 1 are
Though the water is clean of this category, it is not risk-free. If it is not cleaned immediately, it can be hazardous.
Category 2- Greywater
The water of this category comes with some degree of contamination and can be a cause of discomfort or sickness if it consumed by humans. Temperature and time are able to turn category 2 to category 3.
The sources of Category 2 are
Category 3- Blackwater
It is highly dangerous and contaminated water and able to be a cause of severe illness and death if you consume it.
The sources of Category 3 are;
Water damage classes
Knowing the class of water damage is important during the assessment of damage repair options.
Identification of categories and classes of all water related damages are essential to prevent any big disaster. I hope you can easily do it now. As we already said that prevent damage is quite better than restoration, here are some water damage tips for you.
How to prevent water damage
If you properly maintain your home, then it can be the best way to avoid water damage. It is almost mandatory to do; otherwise, you may have to face costly water losses, restorations, and insurance claims. It is one of the most expensive and frequent disasters that can affect your home. Here we stated some way to prevent damages caused by unwanted water.
Prevent water damage from outside of your home
1. Proper drainage system
Ensuring proper drainage for the home should be the first step in preventing damages caused by floodwater, rainwater, and torrential downpours. Poor drainage can make cracks in the concrete your foundation, weaken the foundation, pooling water, uneven settling, and create the pathways for water to enter your home.
2. Downspouts and gutters
Your gutters can eventually clog by filling with seeds, leaves, and other debris over time. That is why it is essential to clean your gutters regularly. The excellent flow of water in the gutter will prevent your foundation and siding form any water cause damages.
Do not forget about your downspouts also. Make sure that water can run smoothly and fall directly 5 to 10 feet away from your house.
3. Use gutter guards
A gutter guard is an attachment that is used for protecting the clogging of your gutter so that water can flow smoothly away from your home and not pool.
If your gutter frequently clogs with seeds, leaves, and other debris, consider installing a gutter guard. It will help to get rid of the messy job of cleaning gutter out regularly.
4. Inspect your roof
The roof of your home is the first line of defense against nature, and nature is trying to bombarding by plenty of its elements constantly. If your roof is serviceable, it is a good idea to inspect your tiles or shingles to ensure none are damaged, missed, or loose. It is also essential to maintain your roof correctly, especially if you have any moss, algae, or lichen buildup.
5. Maintain trees and ventilation
Trees and thriving shrubs and a beautifully maintained landscape and tremendously increase your home’s appeal. Just make sure to remove too big shrubs and the excess branches of the three if necessary
There are some trees and plants like silver maples and weeping willows, have quite an invasive root system. If you are a little unconscious, they can grow right into your pipes, drainage field, sprinkler system, and septic tank.
6. Check irrigation and sprinklers systems
Ensure your irrigation and sprinkler systems are not pooling water near to your house. If water has been pooled for a long time, then the foundation and siding of your home can be damaged.
If you live an area with freezing temperature, then make sure to drain and turn off all outside hoses and faucets. Otherwise, water can be freeze inside of the pipe and cause them to burst.
7. Cracks in concrete
Concrete cracking is unavoidable, but it does not mean you should not do anything about it. If you leave it untreated, a small crack can not only spread over but causes a more significant problem also. This can be more problematic if you live in an area of freezing temperature.
You should also ensure a severe or major issue does not cause the crack, such as a problem in the foundation of your home. If you found such type of cracking issues, then try to patch up it immediately.
Prevent water damage from the inside of your home
8. Know the source of your water main
Surprisingly, many homeowners do not know what the location of their water main is. Knowing the location of the water main is the first step to minimize or prevent any water-related disaster. Sometimes, no matter how much you implement preventative measures, water can damage your house either from a burst pipe or from a natural disaster. If it from inside of your home and if you do not have control over the shutting off the water, then how can you prevent your house from farther damage?
9. Check home appliance regularly
It is essential to check and maintain the home appliances routine wise for any hidden water leaks. Malfunctioning and leaking home appliance appliances can be a significant cause of water damage.
To get rid of this problem, install floor pans under your appliances. Though these pans will not protect your home from a big leakage problem, they can prevent damage from slow or small undetected leaks.
10. Check washing machine hoses
It is very common and one of the most frequent causes of water loss for the homeowner. Do not forget to inspect the washing machine hoses once a week. Replace the tubes at least once in every five years and try to use a safe flood hose. You can avoid expensive damages and nasty mess by replacing your hoses regularly.
11. Inspect refrigerator, water heater and air condition unit
If your refrigerator has a water dispenser or ice maker, then do not forget the double-check the water line hose between the wall and the fridge for any leak.
You should check your water heater at least once a year. Keep a watchful eye out for any small and slow leaks, any rust, water pooling, and corrosion. If you spot any issue, have a water heater serviced as soon as possible by a professional.
Your air conditioning unit is another primary culprit of water loss claims. Usually, air conditioning units are placed out of our sight in a somewhere dark closet area in the house. As a result, it is rarely checked. Make sure you inspect regularly and properly maintain your air conditioning unit for a sign of water leakage.
12. Close windows and doors
Snow and rain can easily attack your home through the faulty fitted windows and doors. It can happen, especially when a strong wind blew against the side of your home. If water seeps inside the windows, then it can damage the window frames and surrounding wall. A properly seal window and door not only water damage help but also increase the security of your home.
13. Use a drain snake
Clogs are unavoidable and must happen, no matter how you clean. Maybe you use a powerful chemical drain cleaner to get unrestricted water flow. These chemicals can eat away your pipes and set a leak for you. So, it is better to consider a drain snake instead of chemicals. Moreover, these drain snakes are quite inexpensive and also a great solution to clear away all clogs.
14. Close your water supply when on vacation
Make sure to close the water supply of your home when you go on a vacation. It is also a common cause of water losses, especially in the months of summer. During this time, homes remain empty for days, weeks, and even months. If you leave even a small leak, it can cause a substantial amount of damages by the time.
15. Install a water flow monitoring system
A water flow monitoring system can protect your whole house by measuring the flow of water. You can attach it to your water main directly. If the monitor detects a continuous water flow that is not consistent with your daily household use, it will stop the flow of water automatically into your house.
16. Install a water leak detection device/alarm
The water alarm works just like a smoke alarm. An alarm is triggered when the device detects water in a specific area. A normal leak detection device is relatively inexpensive. You place them on the floor directly in a variety of locations: In the attic, basement, near air condition, dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator, etc.
Wrapping up
We have tried to discuss the water damage restoration tips from all possible aspects. Even if you never face such types of problems, the above restoration guide and prevention tips of water disaster will help you fix it yourself easily. If any of these preventative measures help you to mitigate or avoid an emergency, let us know in the comments. We are eagerly waiting for your experience with our guide. All the best.
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