What You Need to Know About Water Damage

Water damage is one of the most common indoor problems. It is also the worst problem you may encounter after a flood or water leakage inside your home. For some instances, it is also one of the leading causes of home insurance claims and is responsible for millions of damages every year. When talking about the effects, water damage contributes to the structural and foundation problems which can actually destroy your personal belongings and decorative finishes. Worst, water damages lead to another problem for it creates a perfect environment for mold growth.

 

What to do in case of water damage?

Water damage can be in the form of water leakage due to broken pipes or water lines, sump pump failures, wall leakages, or a weak structural foundation. Before these things ruin your property, it is better if you know the things you need to do when any of these occur.

1. Know where the problem is coming from. 

Before you start your water damage restoration, you have to look for the source of the problem. Mostly water leak sources can be identified depending on its classification:

a. Clean water: This classification of water comes mostly from rain or leaky pipes. It does not contain any harmful chemicals, if this is the source of your growing problem with water, it is safe to handle yourself.

b. Gray water: This is the water leak from home fixtures like your dishwasher, toilet, or washing machine. Unlike clean water, this water can be slightly contaminated. If you wish to clean this by yourself, you would have to know proper precautions.

c. Blackwater: Lastly, the most harmful type of water, blackwater. This comes from the sewer or flooding from nearby bodies of water such as rivers. The important thing to know about this water is that it often contains health hazards. It is unsafe, so you might need help handling this.

2. Disconnect outlets. 

The next thing you need to know when handling water damage is to unplug all necessary electronic appliances immediately.  Even when you still haven’t checked the damage it has caused or may cause, it is very important to be careful with the electronics and gas lines. This could prevent possible electric accidents and explosions from your property.

3. Remove damaged belongings. 

Materials, such as carpets, insulations, and the like, can cause mildew when exposed with water. Hence they should be disposed of. It is important to focus on the floor and ceiling materials first.  They are possibly made of wood and other materials that need to be addressed and replaced immediately to not affect the structural integrity of the property.

4. Dry the affected areas. 

Before the water damages a larger portion of your property, eliminate all moisture and dry out the affected areas. This won’t guarantee a hundred percent prevention of mold growth in the areas affected, but a proper drying out of the area will help lessen the damage and its cost.

5. Disinfect and restore. 

The worst part of dealing with water damage is its power to encourage the growth of mold in your property. In line with this, it is advised to sanitize and disinfect the remaining areas immediately before you begin the restoration process. Dealing with water damages unproperly could lead to health problems, so, if you are taking on your own restoration, it’s important to properly assess the situation first.

 

For a safer restoration process, or if your assessment reveals that the damage is beyond what you can handle, it’s always a good idea to look for guidance and leave water damage restoration to a trusted restoration company.

Connect today to inquire and learn more about dealing with water damage remediation.