What To Do If Your Home Floods
Flooded homes are not just caused by storms and too much rain. Floods can result from broken water pipes, overflowing tubs, sinks, and toilets, or basement leaks and clogged gutters. You usually can’t control the cause of flooding but there are immediate actions you can take to reduce the damage.
DIY Or Hire Professional Help
Most people’s first instinct when water gets into their homes is to stop it coming in and get it out as soon as possible. DIY is often the best option for small amounts of water that you can stop quickly and get dried out quickly.
Bigger floods and leaks with lots of water and damage create more problems that may require fast professional remediation by dedicated flood and water damage experts like Servepro. Your insurance company may demand that you use a professional flood and water remediation company to keep your policy in effect.
Be Safe
Before getting to work trying to minimize water damage, make sure the structure is safe. Flowing water and strong winds can shift houses on foundations, weaken the entire structure, and expose buried cables and pipes. Check for gas leaks and abraded or torn electrical wires.
The water from floods and sewer backups likely contains things you don’t want touching your skin–like feces, bacteria, and possibly live or dead rodents and insects. If you don’t have a personal protection suit, wear gloves, boots, tight-fitting clothing, safety goggles, and a respirator–if you have one–when entering your flooded home.
Electrical Safety
Electricity and water are a dangerous mixture. Turn off the main breaker to the house before moving or unplugging anything electrical.
Make a Record Of Damage
Take pictures of water-damaged possessions and keep a record of what is in boxes. Your insurance company and adjuster find it easier to deal with than a pile of soggy belongings tossed into the yard.
Notify Your Insurance Company
You should notify your insurance company–even if you are hesitant to make a claim. Hidden damage can appear after some time has passed. Without registering a claim when the flood happens, you may be denied coverage later.
Get The Water Out
Squeegies, mops, buckets, wet/dry vacuums, and anything else that removes water. You are never going to use moldy carpet again so just haul it out. Move out anything in soggy boxes. Open all the windows and doors to get fresh air into the house.
Reduce Humidity
Opening the windows is usually not enough to remove all of the moisture from the air. Set up large fans and dehumidifiers Use desiccants–like silica gel, clay, and calcium oxide–to lower humidity. The longer your house is wet and humidity is high, the more damage to your home–including drywall, insulation, framing, flooring, and finishing.
Reducing flood damage depends on speedy reaction and thorough drying and cleaning. Mold starts growing within 24 hours after floods or water damage. It is visible within 48 hours. Mold spreads quickly and takes more time and effort to remove. Mold is responsible for many health problems including more serious asthma attacks.