My Home Has Flooded! Now What?

4/20/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding can cause severe damage and will need cleaning.

A flood is a flood whether it's a result of a burst pipe or a hurricane. Your White Bear Lake, MN, property will sustain the same basic types of water damage. Therefore, the remediation steps are essentially the same for every flood situation. The restoration process must begin immediately to avoid as much loss as possible.
Here are some tips for cleaning after your home sustains a flood:

5 Tips For Cleaning After Suffering Water Damage

1. Determine the Type of Water

Three varieties of water can enter your home. Clean water comes from uncontaminated water, such as rain or broken pipes. Gray water is slightly contaminated but generally not harmful (e.g., water from washing machines, dishwashers and clean toilets). Black water is severely contaminated water, such as that from a sewage overflow or a flood from a river or lake. It's critical to hire water cleanup specialists to properly clean and sanitize after a black water event.

2. Extract Standing Water

Extract all of the standing water immediately. Most materials will experience severe damage quickly. Additionally, porous materials are susceptible to mold growth within 24 hours of water exposure. A wet/dry vacuum is an excellent method of removing flood water.

3. Remove Everything

Remove as much as possible from the affected area. Then, the materials can be sorted into what's salvageable and what isn't. This process may even require some drywall removal. Carpet and padding will probably also be unsalvageable.

4. Dry Everything

The area must be dried thoroughly as quickly as possible to avoid further water damage and mold growth. Opening windows and doors and running dehumidifiers, fans and heaters can help dry the area quicker.

5. Clean and Disinfect Everything

All remaining materials that have been exposed to the water must be cleaned and disinfected. Remember to clean everything, including walls and crevices.

Water damage, whether from clean water or black water, can result in a severe loss. Begin the restoration process quickly to save your home from additional loss.