Floods are among the most damaging natural disasters. The destruction it can cause will leave you devastated. You must deal with the emotional toll of seeing your home damaged and clean up and salvage what you can.
If your home suffers water damage, the article below will provide simple steps to clean up the mess and stop the damage from spreading.
PRE-CLEANING THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Are you debating between cleaning by yourself and hiring professionals? Here are some things to consider:
Amount of Water
Check whether there is only a minimal amount of water in our house. You should be able to clean and take care of it without much trouble. If the flood doesn’t stop, call the experts.
Cause of Damage
To begin repairs, you must first determine the source of the water. There are a few sources of water to watch out for if your home floods.
- Clearwater: comes from leaky pipes or rain. Since there are no chemicals in the water, you can do the cleaning yourself.
- Murky water: comes from various home appliances, such as your washing machine, toilet, or dishwasher. This water may contain trace amounts of contamination. If you take the proper steps, you can clean this yourself.
- Blackwater: (or sewage water) is the most dangerous. It poses an additional threat of contamination. It is often harmful to your health and difficult to handle by yourself.
Severity of Damage
Lastly, evaluate the damage. You can often repair light damage, but severe damage requires a professional.
Step Up and Clean Up with a Plan
It is time to start cleaning up after the water damage now that you have made your assessment.
Step 1: Put your safety above all.
Prioritize safety when dealing with a flood, regardless of the cause. Before you begin the cleanup process, ensure it is safe to do so. Consider the following precautions to keep yourself safe.
- Water and electricity do not mix well. Switch off the power. If the switch is too far, call an electrician.
- Put on protective clothing, such as rubber gloves and boots, to avoid contact with contaminated water.
Step 2: Avoid an overflow.
If you discover the source of the flooding, immediately stop it to avoid further flooding. These are some ways to prevent an overflow:
- Stopping the water supply to prevent the inside water from accumulating.
- Blocking off the water if the flood comes from outside.
- Covering the leaking roof. Use tarps to minimize droplets from entering.
- Draining your home slowly. Only drain it in one-third of the water volume daily to ensure that the floors and walls do not break.
- Removing standing water. Pump water out and dry vacuum the rest.
Step 3: Prevent additional property damage.
The next action to take is to limit the damage to your property. Here are a few ideas to save your belongings from further damage:
- Furniture: Clean and dry the piece, then decide on reparation or replacement.
- Carpet: lift it from the wet ground and dry it on tin foil.
- Essential documents and paperwork: Dry with cornstarch or talcum powder. Dust off the powder after a few hours.
- Photos: Stack them between wax paper and seal them in a plastic bag. Freeze pictures to prevent more damage.
Step 4: Take pictures and then call your insurance company
Congratulations on stopping the flooding, securing your property, and preventing further flooding. The fourth step is to get in touch with your insurer right away. They will tell you what your policy covers and inspect the damage.
Collect photos and videos of the damage. Take as many photos as possible during cleanup. Insurance companies can use this evidence to put a dollar amount on the flood damage they covered.
Step 5: Call in a flood cleanup expert.
Last but not least, speak to a flood restoration expert. You may have realized you can only do minimal damage repair. It is best to leave the rest to the professionals, like the water cleanup services in Kansas City. They should visit, look over your property, and assess the damage. The cleanup service will determine what to do during the process and assist with drying out your home. They’ll help you choose what to save and remove any remaining water. They’ll also clean and dry the damaged areas.
The Water Works
Correctly cleaning up water damage prevents property damage and health risks. Timely response and appropriate measures are crucial, such as shutting off the water source, removing excess water, and properly drying the affected areas. Also, hiring a professional water damage restoration company with the right tools and knowledge to fix the damage is essential. Regular maintenance and inspections can prevent water damage from occurring. Taking the proper steps to clean up water damage will help keep the property safe and intact.
