9 Water Damage Restoration Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
9 water damage restoration tips every homeowner should know.
31/01/2019
Every homeowner gets apprehensive about water damage. Even the smallest amount of leak, if left untreated, can cause major problems in the near future and drain your wallet. When water damage happens, the value of your home decreases as floors and walls are worn out, plumbing gets corroded, and the effect it has on the electrical systems may pose a severe risk to your safety.
Prevention is critical, but once the damage is done, all you can do is to act fast and find a solution. If you don’t want to deal with these yourself, you can always call in a company that specializes with house repair using a 6 step restoration process to fix everything.
Here are 9 water damage restoration tips every homeowner should know:
1. Turn off the main power
The first thing you do when water damage happens is to cut off all electricity from the primary source. It’s imperative that you take extra precautions in handling this because just standing on a puddle of water or touching an electrical appliance can electrocute you. Also, check your water bill if it erroneously goes up because it has most likely come from a leakage.
But if you lack the skills necessary, you may want to invest in professionals who have ample knowledge about water damage solutions to check the damage and fix everything back to the normal, ensuring it doesn’t happen again.
2. Save important items
Valuable possessions such as jewelry, money, photo albums or pictures, and family heirlooms, must be gathered immediately and kept safe in a plastic box or any container that water can’t easily get into.
3. Assess the damage
Determine the extent of damage throughout your property so developing a plan of action will be easier and so you know if rebuilding the affected areas can be possible.
4. Extract the water
The longer the water resides, the more damage it will generate. To avoid further damage, you must shut off the main water supply line. The type of equipment used in getting rid of the water depends on how bad the area looks. Usually, pumps and vacuums are used, and it’s always a must to wear protective gear such as boots and gloves.
5. Identify materials to be replaced
Walls, floors, shelve, drapery, ductwork, heating, and air-conditioning systems must be checked thoroughly if there’s a possibility for them to be re-used or if not, then you have to throw them away ultimately. Damaged walls made of wood, however, must be replaced ASAP since the right support is needed in the structural component of your house.
6. Get rid of all remaining moisture
A little bit of remaining moisture can build up and cause massive damages. Drying and dehumidification begins after pumping out standing water and surfaces are vacuumed. If the affected area is large, then you can rent a large capacity dehumidifier. For small areas, a fan will help circulate the air.
7. Call in a professional
Calling in a professional restoration company is crucial when you want to get your cleanup under control in the best way possible. They’re trained with the right methods on how to evaluate moisture levels and mold growth in the problem areas. They also have the proper equipment to fix the damage as quickly as possible. Most companies you call in have very professional qualifications and equipment to better help you with the damages in your home. Many companies offer fire and flood restoration services in addition to mold remediation you might have found from a small leak in your home. It is best to always have their number saved in your phone.
8. Clean and sanitize
When moisture is completely removed, disinfect the whole place before you begin the restoration process. In order to prevent molds and bacteria from growing, your things need to be cleaned and sanitized. Antimicrobial treatments must be used on your belongings. To get rid of the odor, you can use air scrubbers to remove foul particles in the air.
9. Restore
Restoration is the most significant step. Once you identify the materials needed for replacement, you can begin with the drywall and insulation. You have to measure how much drywall you need to install, though, as to not replace the entire thing. When it comes to swollen floorboards, then it’s evident that moisture is trapped underneath.
Usually, you have to remove them to install new, sealed, and waterproof floors.
Conclusion
As a homeowner, you must learn how to be handy at all times to be able to detect problems in your home such as water leak damage. Knowing what to inspect and the regular maintenance of appliances, roofing, and water pipes, will help stop the problem even before it can happen. It’s vital to examine ceiling and walls for stains that indicate when a pipe has burst inside.
Author Shannon Adams is a content marketer that specializes in business, education, home improvement and technology. He is a content marketer by day and a family man by night.
“Family is not an important thing, it's everything.” - Michael J. Fox