It's understandable how awful it is to see your home after water damage. You've likely felt hopeless and unsure what to do after the water on your home wears off. You might think that all you have to do is grapple with the effects of the water damage and try to hide the scar that was made on your home. But don't worry, there is always a way to bring your home back to life.
The following are the most common causes of water damage in your home to shed some light on:
- Leaking pipes
- Installation problems
- Household appliance defective
- HVAC equipment
- Clogged gutters
- Toilet overflows
- Sewage protection
- Leaky roofs
In addition, you should always do preventative maintenance on your plumbing and equipment that involves water as it can lead to a disaster for your home. If your home has already had water damage, it is a good idea to run damage control as soon as possible to drain the water from your home and get your floors and walls back in tip-top shape. If you want to learn more about how to restore your home after water damage, read below:
Rent a service
If you want to get things done quickly and professionally, you can always get a service like Summit Cleaning & Restoration in Portland or other areas. When you hire a professional, you can be sure that they will be able to restore your home to the best possible condition while making sure it is perfectly safe to move back in with your children and pets. A water damage restoration service is responsible for cleaning up the structure, setting up and planning emergencies, containing the affected area, removing water immediately, and unpacking inventory, to name a few. You are sure to get your money's worth with their service.
Additionally, a water damage recovery team should call and respond to your home as soon as possible for immediate damage control and home restoration. If you switch to another site and hiring a service can be quite expensive for you and your budget is insufficient, you can always do so independently. Below are the steps you need to take to restore your home:
safety first
Since you are restoring your home yourself after water damage, you should always practice safety habits around your home to avoid possible accidents.
- You should first turn off power to the flooded and nearby area to ensure there is no electricity flowing through the water as the effects can be fatal.
- After you've turned off the power, the next thing to do is to close your home's main water inlet valve to prevent your domestic water system from becoming contaminated, which can create additional problems for your home.
- Also, if your home is in a major flood, shut off the gas supply and throw away any damaged food to avoid food poisoning if accidentally consumed.
- Finally, you should never go into a flooded area without physical protection. You should wear waterproof boots as there may be sharp objects hiding on your floor just waiting to be stepped on and cause damage.
Clean up your home
You should throw away any debris brought in by the flood. After the flooding in your home, don't expect just drying and vacuuming. The water that got into your home would likely bring rubbish with it.
- Now that you've got rid of the trash that the flood brought to your home, you can start cleaning your home step by step by figuring out which items to salvage and which to throw away.
- You should remove all of your furniture and let it dry outside of your home. You can dry clean them or throw them away. If you throw away a lot of furniture in your house, consider hiring a garbage disposal service to help you remove the furniture from your house in one session.
- If you have upholstered furniture, be sure to dispose of it immediately as it can pick up harmful contaminants that can cause illness or disease to your family.
Dry your home
After removing the furniture that was affected by the flood, you should dry your home immediately. You should wait for the wave to go so that you can remove any moisture that has remained on your floor.
- If you have carpeted floors in your home and the flood has soaked them, replace them immediately as they may contain contaminants that could harm your family.
- If you have wood floors, the first thing to do is wipe the moisture off your floor before deciding whether to repair or replace it. You can remove the moisture by using electric, gas, or hand pumps to remove dead water on your floor. Navigate your bottom and see the lowest part of the tide and pump there. You should be careful with the use of an electric pump as it could result in an accident if the energy comes into contact with the water.
- After removing the water, it should be thrown into the sewer system, tanker truck, or your yard where you are sure it will not harm the people in your home.
- After you've successfully removed the water in your home, it's time to let it air dry. You could help by opening your doors and windows and bringing fresh air into your home. You can even use electric fans and your heating system to speed up the drying process.
Drying your home can help keep mold and rot away, thus reducing the harm to your home.
Call your flood insurance
If you have one, call your flood insurance company immediately after cleaning your home. They should assist you with your current coverage and hire a adjuster to assess your home with the damage. Flood insurance is a type of property insurance that covers your expenses in the event of a flood in your home caused by heavy rain, melting snow, storm surges, clogged drainage, or dam failure. Flood insurance prices vary based on the flood zone, altitude, age of property, and the number of floors in your household.
To bolster your case with the insurance company, keep your damaged material as evidence of loss in your yard until an appraiser has been able to visit your place. Additionally, you should take photos before and after cleaning up to ensure a proper inventory. With an expert they can determine what damage is in your home and how much your insurance company can cover it.
Get an air test
Many families do not air test their homes immediately after the flood. While it may seem unnecessary, not taking this step can put your family's life at risk. You should have an air test done in your home to make sure your air quality is safe to breathe. If the condition does not match that of your outside air, you should get out of your house immediately and ask for help repairing the climate in your home.
Start repairing your home
After you've called your flood insurance company and they've told you how much of the damage they can cover, you're finally ready to start repairing your home. If the damage only takes up part of the house, you can still live inside, provided you have limited access. However, if the damage to your home is severe, you may need to find temporary shelter until all repairs are completed. When it comes to home repairs, you should look for a reputable contractor with years of water damage experience who knows how to get things done. They know what to do with your home and how to recover from it.
Hiring a contractor can be expensive, especially if your home requires a lot of repairs. When hiring a contractor, make sure you get a reasonable quote for their service and try to get a quote with different contractors to see if one is overpriced. You can search for suitable contractors or get recommendations from your neighbors, family, and friends. In most cases, home repairs will include your floor, wall, etc. Depending on the damage, repairs may need to be done or replaced. If the budget allows, you should have the damaged part of your home replaced to ensure that no debris is left in your home during the flood.
Replacing floors and walls isn't a one-day task. It can take weeks to months to complete. You need to be patient while you wait for the results. It's a grueling process, but it's worth the wait. Before you start repairing your home, you should check with the authorities as certain home repairs require a city permit. You need to make sure you have this done before repairing it as it can create liability for your family. After you have completed the repair for your home, there are a few touch-ups you can do, such as: B. painting and repairing your plumbing and electrical systems if they were damaged by the flood. Ideally, you should have your home in tip-top shape before moving back in, as contamination can be harmful to your family.
Start by cleaning your furniture
While you are waiting for your home repair to be completed, you can start cleaning your furniture so that it is functional again. However, if you find that the damage was severe, or it is an upholstered piece of furniture such as a sofa or mattress, your best bet is to have it replaced. That way, you can keep your family safe.
Here are some steps you can take when cleaning your furniture:
- First, remove all of the mud covering your furniture. If it has drawers, you should remove each piece and clean it one at a time. If there are pads, discard them as they will likely absorb contaminants.
- After you've removed sludge from each piece of furniture, consider using commercially available furniture cleaning products that are specific to the type of material you are using. This will allow you to thoroughly clean your furniture and gradually restore your home.
- You must note that you should not wax or refinish your furniture until it has completely dried out. This can do more damage to your furniture as the moisture can become trapped inside.
- After you've cleaned your furniture, you should allow it to air dry and avoid direct sunlight as the heat from the sun can damage your furniture and make the restoration a mistake. This means that your furniture can take several weeks to months to dry before it is completely dry.
Prevent mold in your home
After you've finished repairing your home, it's a good idea to do preventative maintenance to prevent further damage caused by the flood. Even after you've replaced your flooring, there is a good chance that moisture has built up, which if left untreated, can cause mold to grow. To prevent mold from building up in your home, you should:
- Use your air conditioning and heating system continuously (weather permitting) to allow air to circulate around your home. If you don't have a cooling or heating system in your home, keep the windows open and use a fan to get proper airflow.
- Ideally, you can also use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture in your home.
- You should also turn on your electric lights for faster drying. When the tide has hit the entire floor, you can keep your doors open.
- Try to cut back on any activities that add moisture to your home. You should always use exhaust fans when cooking and bathing to remove steam from your home.
Preventing mold from growing in your home is essential even without flooding. However, if a flood has just occurred, you should follow the steps above intensely for a few weeks to months to be sure.
Conclusion
To see your home flood is a terrible prospect. However, there is nothing you can do about it if the flood has already damaged your home. Your next steps should focus on restoring your home to make it habitable again. You should take safety precautions and clean up after the mess before calling your insurance company and starting the repair. The recovery process may take a while, but the results are worth it if you get your home back to normal.
