A pipe has burst or a toilet has overflowed and your home is flooded. There are few things more distressing than coming home to find water covering the floors. No matter how your home was damaged by water, there are several things you need to do right away to prevent further damage.
So many of the materials in our homes our pourous, and water will quickly seep in and cause problems. The walls, floors and framing of your house can quickly absorb water, in addition to carpet
s and furniture. And it’s not just your property at risk. It can be your health, too, as water damage that is not resolved can turn into a problem with mold. So what do you do first?
Obviously, the first step is to cut off the source of the leak. Damage from water happens fast. If you cannot stop the source, call a professional right away to stop further water from entering your home.
Now it’s time to assess the damage and get things back the way you want them. A complete restoration after water damage should include:
- Water extraction, if needed
- Moving and blocking up furniture, as needed
- Application of a safe deodorizer and disinfectant to inhibit bacterial growth and mildew in carpets, drywall and other building materials
Set up of drying equipment
- Monitoring of drying equipment and drying process. Thorough drying typically takes 3-4 days, but can take longer
- Processing of paperwork for insurance company and owners, which includes daily pictures and moisture reports
- Thermal imaging cameras to see damage inside walls and beneath floors
Once thorough drying is complete, the next steps include:
- Repairs of all types, if needed
- Reinstall carpet and pad
- Clean affected carpeted areas
- Move and reset furniture as required
- Final inspection and sign off
There are many details to properly handling a flooded home or business. At Clean Earth we are experts at flood and water damage restoration. Make sure you have the facts you need to get the right help to restore your home.
