Things To Do While Waiting For The Water Damage Restoration Team
Posted on: 27 July 2022
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Whether it is a burst water pipe, damaged roof, or a natural disaster, any time a lot of water gets into your home can be very traumatic. You may lose items that have personal value, need to replace furnishings, and/or have to have major repairs done to the actual structure of the house. A professional water damage restoration company should be contacted for severe water damage. However, here are a few things you can do to get things started and keep the damage from getting worse while you wait for the professionals.
Disconnect Electricity and Gas
While you may not physically see the water near any electrical outlets, it may have seeped in behind walls or under the floor. Outlets may have damp wood or drywall around or against them. Water and electricity together can cause electrical shocks to anyone who enters the area. In addition, if the water has caused damage to any gas lines, a simple spark may cause an explosion. It is better to have everything turned off until professionals have inspected the house and determined the safety risks.
Dry the Area
Using large fans and/or heaters that can be plugged into a generator or small gas tank, try to dry the area as much as possible. The longer things remain wet the more damage they will incur. If the weather is nice, you can also take things outside to dry off. Open all windows and doors to let the sun and air help dry out the inside of the house.
Remove Destroyed Items
items that are obviously destroyed need to be removed from the house. The more items you can get out of the area the better. Items left inside can cause the spread of mold that can cause health problems if the mold migrates into the building structure.
Disinfect
To prevent mold and bacteria from hiding and multiplying in the damp areas left after drying as much as you can, you should spray a disinfectant everywhere. A water and bleach solution should do the job. Keep in mind that you are not trying to add to the dampness issue but to disinfect the area. Use the solution generously, but don't soak anything.
The more you can get done while waiting for a water damage restoration team the more that can be saved in your home. There are bound to be some things that will need to be replaced as they cannot withstand all the water. However, until the professionals look things over you can not be sure of what to throw away.
Contact a local water damage restoration company for more information.