What to address during a flood and Water Damage in Your Home
Every homeowner dreads the horrible event of their house flooding. Burst pipes, broken appliances, defective sump pumps, sewer backups, and excessive rain are some of the major reasons for flooding in the home.
According to The Listing, an Orlando-based property management firm, flooding might result in circumstances that render the house uninhabitable. It fosters a mold-friendly atmosphere and frequently lowers indoor air quality in the home. This is bad for the health of everyone living there, including you.
Homeowners are frequently in a condition of uncertainty after a flood. This is a result of their efforts to recover some of their treasures and clean up the water. Most homeowners' primary focus is often making their houses more beautiful. They could consider how to decorate the house to do this.
That is not the best course of action, though. Making your house safe again should be your top priority after a flood. Your home won't become safe by drying the water off, painting, or replacing the carpeting.
The actions you may take to repair your house after a flood and water damage are listed below.
1) Think about your safety first.
After a flooding catastrophe, your house becomes dangerous. Your safety and the protection of your family become a top priority as a result. In that situation, it would be wise to adopt these safety measures:
Put on safety gear
Before entering a flooded home, we advise you to put on safety gear such rubber hand gloves and boots. You can avoid electrocution and other possible dangers by doing this.
Disconnect the power source.
Put it off if the property's power supply is still running. Water conducts electricity, which is why. Additionally, continuing to use electricity might lead to electrocution. To switch off the electricity, we do not advise you to jump into the water, though. Leave it to your electrician if the control demands you to enter any moist area.
Look for a temporary home
It is preferable to leave the area after floods until you can go inside your house.
2) Call a contractor for restoration.
To assist you in getting the water out of your house, you need a cleanup service. And we advise you to act on this right away. The more deeply the flood water permeates the structures of your home, the more significant damage it will do.
The tools and equipment required to pump out water from your residence are available from cleanup businesses. You should contact experts if the flooding was caused by a sewer backup since further safety measures are required.
The drywall, insulation, and flooring within the home will be taken out by your restoration specialists. From the floor up to at least one foot above the waterline, the drywall will be taken out. The contractors will leave the walls open once they have been torn down for a few days to allow the cavity to dry out.
Your insulation loses its effectiveness when water gets inside of it. This is due to the moisture that is now present in the atmosphere and will not entirely evaporate. Maintaining this insulation will make it a haven for mold growth.
Hardwood and laminate flooring swell after absorbing moisture. The carpets and flooring will be replaced by your contractors. Your professionals will know which pieces of furniture they can rescue and which you should throw away based on the examination.
3) Contact your insurance provider.
Inform your insurance provider if your property experiences floods. Make sure to snap several photos prior to, during, and after the clean-up. Make a note of the prices of all the potential defective products as well.
Your insurance provider will send an adjuster to evaluate the quantity and kind of water damage as soon as you inform them of it. That will enable them to decide if your insurance will cover the damage. It is important to keep in mind that not all homeowner's insurance policies include floods.
4) Dry your home..
The next stage is to dry out your home after all the water has been removed from it. Use an air mover, dehumidifier, or central air conditioner to do this. By doing this, you can assist to reduce humidity and stop the formation of mold. It would be preferable to quickly dry out your house. at the very least over the initial 24-48 hours.
5) Assess the air quality and mold.
Your home's indoor air quality ought to be equivalent to that of the surrounding environment. However, flooding lowers the air quality in your house and promotes the growth of mold. As soon as the air quality improves, leave the premises.
Get a professional to clean up the mold on your property as well. To avoid widespread mold development, it would be ideal to complete this as soon as possible.
You must act quickly to restore your house after water damage. You can return to your house as soon as your contractors and insurance provider provide their consent.
If you need assistance, don't hesitate to call us at 407-768-2707 for all of your restoration needs.