Water Damage Clean-up: A Guide

When a water emergency occurs, it is your responsibility to do the right thing at the right moment to stop further damage from taking place. As it seems impossible, there are methods and steps to transition your home back to normal.

Here are top 5 water damage clean-up steps from our professionals at Leak Detection of Atlanta.

Electricity

One of the most important and critical steps in this blog post will be the electrical current in your home. Shutting this current off is the best course of action as there are many things plugged into the outlets in your household.

Even if you don’t see any severe water damage, turning off the electricity and unplugging everything in your outlets can be a lifesaver. Leaving them in and keeping the electricity on can lead to the possibility of major electrical shocks or explosions.

Removal of Water

With puddles of water around your home, it isn’t healthy for the material it’s laying on. The longer water lays on floor coverings and wood, the worse it gets. This also impacts the framing in your home too.

To stop the spread, you need to locate and shut off the water source. Once that is done, try to remove the water using a mop and bucket or a drying vacuum. This is vital as the more this standing water stays there, the worse the conditions of the area will get. Lastly, using drying equipment can dehumidify the area to prevent bacteria from growing.

This is an important step as it’ll make your water damage restoration process easier.

Mold Prevention

There are certain strains of mold that can be dangerous for humans. As an area is moist and wet, it welcomes mold with open arms. This type of area is what they thrive off of. Investing in a dehumidifier can keep your humidity level and the pace of which the mold is growing at low.

If there are small pieces of mold visible, you can try to cut them out to throw away. If there are many pieces of mold which could be too dangerous for you to handle, then contacting a specialist is the best choice.

Damaged Materials

There is a possibility that your belongings were damaged in the process of the situation. This can include your carpet, furniture, and insulation. It is important to pay attention to your drywall and support beams as they help keep your home up. To keep going forward with water damage removals and repairs, it is essential to inspect and replace these to ensure the household’s structure is solid.

Disinfect

To continue with restoring and cleaning up your home, disinfecting is a process to take note of. The water you’re removing has the possibility of containing dangerous amounts of bacteria that can lead to health problems.

This type of water can also encourage mold growth, so it’s important to sanitize the area. As you have removed all of the damaged materials in your home, make sure to disinfect the workspace to ensure more spores do not grow as the restoration process starts.

Call a Professional to Handle Your Water Damage Removal

Handling water damage removals can get frustrating. With the right advice, steps, and help, it can be incredibly simple. Reaching out to our friendly representatives at Leak Detection of Atlanta can help you start your restoration process today!