How to Assess Water Damage after a Flood
12/1/2021 (Permalink)
Water damage is a major issue that can occur in any home. Flooding has become a more common occurrence due to rising sea levels and natural disasters. This blog post will provide you with information on how to assess your water damage after a flood, as well as tips for what to do next if the flooding was caused by something else!
Inspect the Pipes and See If the Sewerage System Is Blocked
The first thing you should do is inspect the ventilation system and see if it has been clogged. The water damage may have occurred because of a blockage in one or more parts of your home's plumbing, usually near where sewage exits into the drainage system. If there are any visible signs of flooding on these pipes, including leaks or cracks, call your local plumber after reading this blog post to learn what they can do about them! Cleaning Your Flood-Damaged Home Can Prevent More Damage from Occurring
Closely monitor all appliances that use electricity. Be sure not to try to use anything electrical until everything has dried out completely (and even then only turn something back on once every hour). It is also important that you keep your house as ventilated as possible by opening windows and doors. Do not skip this step! It is important that you use a fan to remove moist air from the building as often as possible, especially during heavy rainfall or when it’s humid outside.
Check your furniture and other items inside your house if the water was able to get in
After the water damage has been assessed, you can begin cleaning up! Remove items that have been damaged by moisture and evaluate them to see if they are salvageable. If you find any furniture or appliances in your home with mold growing on them, throw these things out immediately because even a small amount of growth increases the chances of getting respiratory problems later down the line. While many homeowners choose to hire professional cleaners for this part of their post-flood restoration process, some decide it is more cost effective (and doable) to clean everything themselves using products like bleach and detergents which will kill harmful spores after three minutes at 20° Celsius. Dry off all surfaces such as floors and walls before mopping since excess moisture could cause bacteria to grow inside.
You may also notice that some of your belongings have been damaged by the water including books, CDs and clothes which you should clean using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to remove any dust or bacteria before throwing them out. You can do this yourself if you feel comfortable enough but many people choose to hire professional cleaners who specialize in cleaning mold from clothing and furniture items for this task instead! In addition to dry-cleaning materials such as clothes, blankets and pillows it is important that you get rid of all wet carpets, rugs or other textiles immediately since these will become home to dangerous molds if not removed within 48 hours of flooding occurring.
Inspect your lawn for any water damage
Even if you are not allowed to stay in your house after it has been flooded, make sure that you do not neglect any of the exterior spaces. Check for cracks or leaks on patios and driveways as well as broken irrigation systems since they may have contributed towards flooding occurring inside your home. A landscaping professional should be able to repair these problems easily so long as it is done soon enough!