5 Water Damage Cleanup Ideas That Everyone should Know

One of the most common causes of loss for a homeowner or business owner is water. Water damage affects 37 percent of all homeowners, according to insurance industry estimates. Also, 14,000 people in the United States experience a water damage emergency at home or work every day.

The ultimate solution is to get expert help from a?water damage clean-up company.

Water damage to your home can be caused by leaking pipes, ruptured sewer lines, and natural disasters. If your home has signs of water damage, it is critical to locate the source and act quickly to avoid any unseen damage.

As a home or business owner, you are always at risk of water damage. Spills, leaks, and floods can cause extensive water damage to your home, necessitating extensive restoration efforts in some cases.

Water warps and disintegrates wood, destroys textiles and furniture, corrodes steel, and can cause electrical supply system short circuits.

Perhaps most concerning is that if water damage is not addressed and properly dried and mitigated, it can increase hazards and create conditions conducive to mold and microbial growth.

Dealing with water damage in the home can be aggravating, especially if it leads to further issues. While the majority of these repairs will necessitate the services of a professional, there are a few do-it-yourself procedures you can employ to help limit the damage.

Standing water, flooding, and the presence of water are all signs of water damage in a situation like this. However, there are some less obvious signs:

Things You Should Do After Water Damage Strikes You

1. Changes To Flooring, Walls, Or Ceilings:

A water leak can go unnoticed. We often can see only prominent standing water. However, there are more minor details to keep an eye out for. Slow leakage is usually concealed, but any difference in your flooring, walls, or ceilings, calls for inspection.

Early warning indicators of water damage include bubbling or peeling paint or wallpaper on the walls or ceilings. The areas become bloated or puffy over time and may even distort. When an issue has gone unnoticed for an extended period, the walls and ceilings may feel porous to the touch.

The same thing can happen if there are leaks on the floor.?Water damage?to the sub-flooring may already exist by the time a property owner detects a damp spot of carpeting, warped wood, or peeling laminate or tile.

2. Significant Stains Or Mold:

Mold patches are also an indication of water damage in some parts of your property. Stains formed by molecular and chemical components in water are frequent when there is a slow but persistent leak. Mold, on the other hand, is a biological organism that grows.

Mold may appear blue, green, gray, or black and can often appear fuzzy, with thread-like structures. The majority of water stains are yellowish-brown in color and shape themselves irregularly around the source of the water leak.

These stains are frequent in basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms due to the number of pipes that can leak and the high volume of water used. When you find stains in these regions, it usually indicates that the cause of the leak is related to the use of a plumbing fixture.

Water stains build over time as these spots go through a vicious cycle of getting wet, drying, and getting wet again. Mold is a fungus that grows in the air when there is a persistent source of moisture or dampness. Mold is also frequently found hidden behind and beneath construction components, such as under carpeting, in ceilings, and behind bathroom tiles.

Mold is prone to grow in damp construction materials such as drywall, wood, carpeting, ceilings, furnishings, and other materials in your home if they remain damp for an extended period or never completely dry.

It usually found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, garages, and other areas where excess moisture goes unchecked.

3. Musty Smells:

Water damage may not necessarily be visible always. Water damage can frequently be detected by odor. Musty odors are an indicator of water damage in a home. The musty odor is similar to damp newspaper or cardboard, and it is usually stronger around the area where the water damage occurred.

A musty-smelling place or room may also feel damp or humid. Look for any indicators of water damage, such as mold or discoloration.

If the property is older, it may be difficult to distinguish the musty smell from the diversity of aromas associated with older properties, but keep an eye out for abrupt increases. A musty odor nearly typically signals the presence of water or mold in newer homes and estates.

Whether you suspect water damage due to an odor, a restoration team can visit and perform a water reading on the walls and floors to determine if there is a hidden leak on the property.

4. High Utility Bills:

A significant increase in your water or sewage bill may indicate water damage.

Examine your bill and maintain track of your averages, comparing your bills month after month. Take into account any life events or landscape watering modifications that may increase water demand. Water usage, for example, often increases over the holidays, when you have visitors staying for an extended length of time, and during the summer months when landscape watering requirements are higher.

While moderate changes are normal, you should not see large spikes in water use that you cannot explain.

Once you identify and treat water damage and the source of the moisture has been treated, it is time for?water damage restoration.

How To Perform Water Damage Restoration Process?

1. Take The Plugs Out Of The Outlets:

The need to respond swiftly to water damage should never come at the expense of safety. Before you begin working on cleansing and repair, make sure the property is safe to enter.

If your home has water damage, the damage might have compromised the strength of the structure. In rare circumstances, the walls may have gone weak. When the water is severe, the ceilings may begin to sag. Never enter a property that has the potential to collapse. Only enter if disaster officials have permitted you to do so.

Turn off the electricity and gas supply to the property before entering it if it has suffered water damage. While you may not be able to see the extent of the?water damage?right now, avoid appliances and gas lines. In any case, employing this equipment could result in electrical shocks or even explosions.

2. Examine Mold:

Certain mold strains are poisonous to humans and can cause serious health risks. Mold can spread quickly once it infests a room, so it is vital to inspect it to avoid health problems.

For fewer infestations, cut out the problematic area and dispose of it immediately. If you have a severe mold infestation, you should turn off all airflow and call a mold expert. Mold is present inside walls or floors. As a result, it is critical to be cautious during the situation throughout the repair process.

Any dampness that lasts more than 24 hours may cause mold and mildew to grow on the walls. If the mold is not larger than 3 feet by 3 feet, you can scrub and rinse it away with water, a brush, and detergent.

If the mold growth is bigger than that, you will need to contact a professional?mold remediation specialist. Always wear appropriate protective equipment and prevent mold spores from spreading to other areas of the property.

Once you clean the mold, it is essential to raise the room temperature. As it can help prevent mold re-infestation while the water dries. Professionals use electrical dehumidifiers and industrial fans to keep the house warm and dry.

3. Drain The Water:

After determining the safety of the property, the priority in the case of water damage is to remove all standing water. The longer water lingers on the property, the more damage is done in the form of corrosion of building materials and possibly mold growth.

Any standing water is immediately absorbed by drywall. In less than three hours, a sheet of drywall with its edge submerged in 12″ of water may wick water up to 6 inches.

If there is not a lot of water, you can begin removing it with a wet-dry vacuum or soaking it with towels.

However, if the water is more than one foot, you should contact a professional repair firm to assist you in removing the water. They can utilize pumps and specialized equipment to remove the water swiftly and safely without jeopardizing the property.

4. Remove Any Damaged Materials:

Any damp goods should be removed from the house so that they can be properly cleaned and dried. Carpets and upholstery may be professionally cleaned. Remove all furniture from a water-damaged area because not only can the water damage the furniture but wet wood and metal furniture will leave stains on the carpet.

To get a fresh clean surface to wipe with, use a utility knife or a razor blade to slice off the soot-covered outer layer of the sponge. You can also just get a fresh sponge, but make sure you’re working with a clean sponge.

5. Clean Up The Remaining Areas

Depending on the type of water, it could include a lot of bacteria and other toxins that are dangerous to your health. Because the water may promote mold growth, it is vital to sterilize it as soon as possible.

After you’ve removed the damaged goods, you would want to thoroughly clean the area to prevent mold spores from forming. Spray and wipe down the surfaces with bleach before proceeding with the repairs and restoration.

Conclusion:

While water damage can be upsetting for homeowners, you can restore your home to normalcy with the right steps. To avoid any health risks, it’s critical to investigate the problem before moving forward with your restoration.

Remember that you are not alone in dealing with water damage. Whether you have a residential or commercial property, and regardless of the extent and breadth of the water damage,?EZ Flood Restoration USA?is equipped and ready to assist you in restoring your property to pre-loss conditions as soon as possible.

When you discover water damage, one of the best things you can do is contact experts to help you get the water damage clean-up done efficiently.

We are a water damage clean-up company and have the equipment, experience, and professional specialists to remove any standing water from your property and then carefully dry it, entirely recovering any damage and reducing further loss.

Author:?Walter Mealey

Walter is a marketing manager at?EZ Flood Restoration USA.?With extensive knowledge of water damage and flood restoration, he writes articles about the cause and remedy of Mold growth, remodeling Kitchen and Bathroom with latest plumbing innovation and technology, how to Crawl Space after flood, and tips to get rid of Fire and Smoke Damage. Stay updated with recent articles and grab comprehensive knowledge of common ways the flood damage affects your home and business and what proactive steps you take to overcome it as well as modern tools that can keep you alert about the happening of natural and accidental uncertainties.

Source: EZ Flood Restoration USA Blog